Classic Hits

The Jacksons are among the many famous artists who will be performing on the 2022 edition of the Ultimate Disco Cruise, which sets sail from Miami on February 26 and visits two Mexico locales — Cozumel and Costa Maya — before returning to port on March 3.

The famed sibling group are making their return to the seagoing dance-music extravaganza after previously playing the cruise in 2020. Marlon Jackson tells ABC Audio that he and his brothers had “a really great time doing this cruise the first time,” so they’re looking forward to doing it again.

“[T]he people were nice, made me feel welcome, and made us feel at home,” Marlon notes.

Alongside The Jacksons on the lineup are KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, The Spinners, The Ohio Players, Rose Royce, Evelyn “Champagne” King, Thelma Houston, A Taste of Honey, Hues Corporation and many more.

About The Jacksons’ performances on the cruise, Marlon says, “I think we’re adding a couple of different songs that we didn’t do last time.” Regardless of what the band plays, he insists, “We’ll have fun onstage. It’s all about just having fun.”

Marlon also points out that he and his brothers did an autograph-signing session on the last cruise, adding, “I’m sure we’ll probably do the same [on this one].” In addition, he expects to take part in a meet-and-greet session with fans, something he also did on the last cruise.

For fans considering going on next year’s Ultimate Disco Cruise, Marlon urges, “Come out and just have a great time…Have a party on the water!” He also points out that fans can get a discount on the price of the cruise by using the promo code “JACKSONSFAN.”

For more details, visit UltimateDiscoCruise.com.

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Ringo Starr is part of the latest list of celebrities who have been confirmed to host their own virtual tutorial sessions as part of the ongoing MasterClass series.

The former Beatles drummer’s class, which is scheduled to premiere on November 22, will feature him teaching drumming and creative collaboration.

The announcement of Starr’s MasterClass took place during a special event held this week at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City that included videos previews of the upcoming classes, a live performance by pop superstar Christina Aguilera and DJ sets by Questlove of The Roots.

Other music artists who also will host upcoming MasterClass sessions include Aguilera and Mariah Carey, whose classes will both debut in the spring of 2022.

A video featuring highlights of the announcement event and previewing the various forthcoming tutorials can be viewed at the official MasterClass YouTube channel.

For a $180 annual payment, viewers can access all available tutorials. For more information, visit MasterClass.com.

Well-known musicians who have hosted previously released MasterClass sessions include Carlos Santana, Metallica, Tom Morello, Sheila E., Herbie Hancock and Questlove.

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The Doors‘ Robby Krieger, The Cars‘ Elliot Easton, Randy Bachman and Guns N’ Roses‘ Slash are among the many artists featured on an upcoming compilation paying homage to late Mountain frontman Leslie West.

The album, dubbed Legacy: A Tribute to Leslie West, will be released on March 25, 2022.

Krieger teams up with current Rainbow singer Ronnie Romero for a version of “The Doctor.” Easton and Romero contribute a rendition of “Sittin’ on a Rainbow.” Bachman joins forces with his son Tal for a medley of “Money (Whatcha Gonna Do)” and “By the River.” Slash plays guitar on a version of Mountain’s signature song, “Mississippi Queen,” with vocals from Marc LaBelle of the up-and-coming band Dirty Honey.

Other artists contributing to the album include Twisted Sister‘s Dee Snider and Eddie Ojeda, Quiet Riot bassist Rudy Sarzo, ex-Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre, Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse, former Rainbow singer Joe Lynn Turner and many more.

Legacy initially had been planned as West’s next album project, which was to feature him playing new versions of standout songs from throughout his career with some guest artists. Unfortunately, Leslie died at age 75 in December 2020, two weeks before the sessions were scheduled to start. Instead, it was decided to make the record a tribute album.

“We really didn’t have to reach out to many people,” says West’s widow, Jenni. “They came to us. What’s really amazing is, if Leslie himself had whispered into my ear and told me who he would want on this record, these would be the people he would have requested.”

Legacy can be pre-ordered now on CD, as a limited-edition silver-vinyl LP and on digital formats. A deluxe box set version also will be made available.

Here’s Legacy: A Tribute to Leslie West‘s full track list:

“Blood of the Sun” — featuring Zakk Wylde
“Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin)” — featuring Joe Lynn Turner & Marty Friedman
“Theme for an Imaginary Western” — featuring Dee Snider, Eddie Ojeda, Rudy Sarzo, Mike Portnoy, Francesco Saglietti
“For Yasgur’s Farm” — featuring Joe Lynn Turner & Martin Barre
“Why Dontcha” — featuring Steve Morse & Ronnie Romero
“Sittin’ on a Rainbow” — featuring Elliot Easton & Ronnie Romero
“Never in My Life” — featuring Dee Snider & George Lynch
“The Doctor” — featuring Robby Krieger & Ronnie Romero
“Silver Paper” — featuring Charlie Starr
“Money (Whatcha Gonna Do)/By the River” — featuring Bachman & Bachman
“Long Red” — featuring Yngwie Malmsteen & Teddy Rondinelli
“Mississippi Queen” — featuring Slash & Marc LaBelle

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Founding Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge died today, according to separate messages posted by his longtime band mates Justin Hayward and John Lodge. He was 80.

“It’s a very sad day. Graeme’s sound and personality is present in everything we did together and thankfully that will live on,” Hayward wrote in a message posted on the band’s official website. “When Graeme told me he was retiring I knew that without him it couldn’t be the Moody Blues anymore. And that’s what happened. It’s true to say that he kept the group together throughout all the years, because he loved it.”

Justin added, “In the late [1960s] we became the group that Graeme always wanted it to be, and he was called upon to be a poet as well as a drummer. He delivered that beautifully and brilliantly, while creating an atmosphere and setting that the music would never have achieved without his words.”

In his own tribute, Lodge wrote on his Facebook page, “To me he was the White Eagle of the North with his beautiful poetry, his friendship, his love of life and his ‘unique’ style of drumming that was the engine room of the Moody Blues…I will miss you Graeme.”

Edge co-founded the band in 1964 and was the only original member to play with the group throughout its entire history. The Moody Blues stopped touring at the end of 2018, several months after the band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

While Graeme was probably the least prolific of the band members with regard to songwriting contributions, he was best known for writing the poetic interludes that appeared on many of the group’s albums, most famously “Late Lament,” the spoken-word segment recited by keyboardist Mike Pinder that’s heard at the end of “Nights in White Satin.”

Back in March 2018, Edge talked with ABC Audio and revealed some of the things he was most proud of with regards to his long career, including the fact that he wasn’t involved in any scandals, The Moodies sold out Madison Square Garden five times in one week, and the band had the reputation of being “proper professionals” with its fans and promoters.

Graeme continued, “I’m proud of the music we’ve done. I bear not too much responsibility for that, but Justin and John and Ray [Thomas] and Mike have written some sterling songs, and it was just a privilege to play with them.”

Edge also noted, with a laugh, “I’m proud and grateful for the career that we’ve had, which has been successful but not made me too rich. You know, I think I could have been an a**hole if I’d have been too rich.”

Edge is the second member of The Moody Blues’ classic lineup to pass away, following Thomas, who died in January 2018 at age 76.

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Joe Walsh has unveiled plans for his fifth annual VetsAid charity concert, which, like last year’s event, will be held virtually.

This year’s fundraiser, which has been dubbed VetsAid 2021: The Basement Show, will be streamed online on December 18 at 8 p.m. ET via the Veeps.com platform. Tickets for the event, as well as special VIP merch bundles, are available now at VetsAid.Veeps.com, with prices spanning from $15 to $500. All proceeds will benefit veterans services charities.

The show will feature Walsh performing live with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and three legendary session musicians — guitarist Waddy Wachtel, bassist Lee Sklar and drummer Russ Kunkel — plus some surprise guests.

In addition, unaired footage from the four previous star-studded VetsAid events will be shown as part of this year’s presentation. Those who purchase tickets will be able to watch the streamed event on demand through December 25.

“With variable COVID rates throughout the summer and fall, I wasn’t comfortable putting together the kind of live festival that our fans and performers have come to expect and deserve,” says Walsh about deciding to do a virtual show again. “I was so pleased with last year’s streaming festival that I thought we could try something even cooler this time around.”

He adds, “Join me and my buddies for an old-fashioned basement jam live from my house to yours where I will debut some brand-new songs, play some favorites, share some never-before-seen footage and performances from past VetsAid shows and…who knows who will show up and what might happen?!”

So far, VetsAid has distributed almost $1.8 million to charities supporting veterans and their families. This year’s event will focus on organizations helping homeless veterans and the resettlement of Afghan allies.

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After Bruce Springsteen paid a visit to CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert a couple of weeks ago, The Boss appeared on the program again on Wednesday night in a new — likely pre-recorded — interview segment.

Springsteen took part in an installment of the program’s ongoing “Colbert Questionert” segment, during which host Stephen Colbert fires off 15 questions to a celebrity guest designed to help people “truly get to know” that star.

Here are some of the questions Bruce was asked, and his responses:

What is the best sandwich? “That’s easy. Three a.m. Peanut butter and jelly. Big glass of milk.”

What is the scariest animal? “[It] used to be the shark because I was a surfer…when I was younger, but I have been bit several times by a brown recluse spider…and they leave a nasty necrotic sore.”

Apples or oranges? “Apples.”

Have you ever asked someone for their autograph? “Yes. I was with my son watching the New York Yankees in 1998, and…we had a baseball that the whole team signed.”

What do you think happens when we die? “Individual consciousness, adios. But our souls and our spirits, I think, grow and live on with the people that we’ve loved and who’ve loved us and with people we’ve had impact on with our work or with our in our daily experience. So I’m going with that.”

Favorite action movie? “Vanishing Point.”

Favorite smell? “My wife, Patti.”

Least favorite smell? “Sulfur.”

Most used app on your phone? “Siri, how do I get to…?!”

You get one song to listen to for the rest of your life: What is it? “‘Summer Wind,’ Frank Sinatra.”

Describe the rest of your life in five words. “Damn, what a f****** ride.”

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Trying to follow up one of the biggest songs of the last 20 years or so is a tall order, which is why Rob Thomas says he isn’t concerned about whether or not “Move,” his new duet with Carlos Santana, is as successful as their first duet, “Smooth.” But Rob says the reason he specifically doesn’t worry about that stuff is because of some advice that Carlos gave him 21 years ago.

“I’m three years younger now than Carlos was when we first did ‘Smooth,'” Rob tells ABC Audio. “And at that very, very young age, Carlos taught me something that was very, very important that I hold on to, which is: The world is not as complicated as you make it seem sometimes, and you really are only in control of your motive, your intention and your purpose.”

According to Rob, Carlos told him, “Those are the three things that you can control. And whatever the outcome is, that’s going to be the outcome, but you can’t worry about it while you’re putting something into [the universe].”

“So, I don’t think I’ve ever really been concerned about whether something was going to perform,” Rob says, addressing the topic of “Move’s” success versus that of “Smooth.”

“When I do something and I’m creative and I’m listening to that frequency in the universe that gives me a song, then I feel like I’ve already succeeded,” the Matchbox Twenty frontman states. “And I think the only time that I fail is if I stop listening to that — or I start trying to control it.”

In addition to “Move,” which in addition to Carlos also features American Authors, Rob has a new holiday album out, Something About Christmas Time.

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Paul McCartney has posted a video on his Facebook page capturing him sharing an emotional confession during a recent livestreamed Q&A event promoting his new book The Lyrics.

In the segment, Paul says he never told his late Beatles band mate John Lennon that he loved him.

“As 16-year-old, 17-year-old Liverpool kids, you could never say that. It just wasn’t done,” McCartney explains. “So I never did. I never really just said, ‘John, love you, man.’ I just never got ’round to it. So now, it is great to just realize how much I loved this man.”

The event, which took place November 5 at London’s Southbank Centre, is available on demand for streaming through Saturday, November 12, priced at $14.

In other news, McCartney and his daughters Mary and Stella have joined animal-rights organization PETA U.K. and other celebrities in calling for the United Nation’s COP26 climate-change conference, which is taking place now in Glasgow, Scotland, to adopt the Plant Based Treaty initiative, which is designed to focus on food systems as a way to battle the global climate crisis.

The McCartneys, PETA U.K. and others issued a message Tuesday to the COP26 delegates urging them to adopt the treaty, which seeks to encourage the production of more plant-based foods rather than meat, as a companion to the Paris Agreement climate-change treaty adopted in 2015.

Paul, Mary and Stella, who launched the Meat Free Monday campaign in 2009, say in a statement, “We believe in justice for animals, the environment and people. That’s why we support the Plant Based Treaty and urge individuals and governments to sign it.”

Among the other celebs supporting the treaty are Moby, Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara and Game of Thrones actor Jerome Flynn.

“I never really said ‘John I love you man’, I never got round to it. So now it’s great to just realise how much I love this man…”
‘The Lyrics: Paul McCartney in Conversation’ is available to watch on demand till November 12th: https://t.co/yoJhfzbs3o @PenguinLive pic.twitter.com/WdsmwqfzbG

— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) November 10, 2021

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U2 frontman Bono is among the music artists and other entertainment industry figures who will take part in keynote events during Variety‘s Music for Screens Virtual Summit, which will run from December 1 to December 3.

The summit will focus on a variety of topics involving music in media, including the revival of musicals on TV and in film, music in superhero-themed projects, video games as a launchpad for music artists, and more.

Bono will participate in a keynote conversation about the making of the new U2 tune “Your Song Saved My Life,” which is featured in upcoming animated film Sing 2. The event, which is scheduled for December 3 at 9:30 a.m. ET, also will feature Sing 2 writer and director Garth Jennings.

Other music artists and celebs taking part in the summit’s keynote events include Jennifer Hudson, will.i.am, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Anderson .Paak, Colleen “Vitamin C” Fitzpatrick, and The National‘s Adam Dessner, Bryce Dessner and Matt Berninger.

For more details about the summit, visit MusicforScreens.SplashThat.com.

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A previously unheard song recorded in 1968 that features The Beatles‘ George Harrison and Ringo Starr got its world premiere today and will be released as a charity single on Thursday, BBC News reports.

The tune, “Radhe Shaam,” was written and produced by Indian-born journalist/broadcaster Suresh Joshi and was recently rediscovered at his Birmingham, U.K., home during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The song was premiered at an event Wednesday, held at the Liverpool Beatles Museum attended by about 100 people, and then was played on BBC Radio.

In a Wednesday interview with the BBC, Joshi explained that “Radhe Shaam” was recorded at London’s Trident Studios for the soundtrack of a feature film on which he was working. Joshi said Harrison and Starr turned up at the session while The Beatles were taking a break from recording “Hey Jude,” and the two musicians offered to play on the song, which was sung by Indian classical musician Aashish Khan.

Joshi said that the recording initially was shelved and he’d always hoped to release it eventually, but he never got around to it until it turned up again during the lockdown.

Suresh noted that he was inspired to find the master tape of the recording after telling his friend Deepak Pathak about the song. Liverpool Beatles Museum creator Roag Best, half brother of original Beatles drummer Pete Best, also took part in the interview, and explained that Pathak met Paul McCartney at the museum and told him about the track, and McCartney then helped to facilitate its release.

Roag also revealed that “Radhe Shaam” will be released Thursday, with all proceeds benefiting charity.

You can listen to the interview and the song at BBC.co.uk. The song is played at about the two-hour, 28-minute mark.

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