Classic Hits

Blondie‘s Debbie Harry infamously revealed in her 2019 autobiography, Face It, that during a 1977 tour, after she offered David Bowie and Iggy Pop some cocaine, Bowie thanked her by dropping his pants and flashing her. While some people may be offended by that, she scoffs at the idea that it was something she was upset about. 

“I think you should rethink that. Most women would really die to be in that room,” she tells The U.K. Times, agreeing that it could be true about some men, too. She notes, “You have to consider the context — I was a consenting adult, shall we say. I believe that that is really the borderline.”

In the book, Harry wrote of the experience, “David’s size was notorious, of course, and he loved to pull it out with both men and women. It was so adorable, funny and sexy.”

Harry was talking to the paper ahead of the band’s appearance at the Glastonbury Festival on June 25. The show is part of the band’s current U.K. tour, which runs through July 1. A complete list of dates can be found at blondie.net.

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Elton John has added a new member to the family. The singer’s husband, David Furnish, revealed on social media that the family has just gotten a new puppy. 

“This Father’s Day, we are happy to announce the newest arrival to the Furnish-John family. Please meet Jacob,” he writes on Instagram next to a picture of an adorable black pup. He notes the couple’s sons, Zachary and Elijah, “are co-fathering little Jacob and have proudly declared that Elton and I are……erm…..grandparents……!” 

While Jacob is a sweetie, Elton won’t be at home helping out with his “grandson.” He’s still on the road with his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. His next stop is Paris, France, where he’ll play three nights, June 21, 27 and 28. In the middle of that he’ll play the U.K.’s Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, June 25. A complete list of Elton dates can be found at EltonJohn.com.

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If you’ve ever wanted to live like Mick Jagger, now’s your chance.

The Rolling Stones frontman and girlfriend Melanie Hamrick have put their Florida home on the market, and while it comes with a hefty price tag, you do get a lot for you money.

According to the listing on realtor.com, the more than 5,700-square-foot home is in the gated community of The Lake Club. It features four en suite bedrooms, all with walk-in closets; five and a half bathrooms; a media room; and a newly screened-in lanai with a fireplace. There’s also a heated pool, outdoor grill and kitchen, a bell tower to watch the sunsets and whole lot more.

Playing into Jagger’s career, the listing notes, “You can’t always get what you want….but this house is definitely what you need.”

Of course, getting what you need costs a pretty penny. The house is currently on the market for over $3.4 million.

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On This Day, June 19, 1950 …

Heart rocker Ann Wilson was born in San Diego, California.

Founded in the 1970s with sister Nancy Wilson, Heart has sold over 35 million records worldwide, with seven top 10 albums, including their 1985 self-titled release, which went to #1. They also had 29 singles reach the Billboard Hot 100, including “Magic Man,” “Barracuda” and “What About Love,” as well as two number one hits, 1986’s “These Dreams” and 1987’s “Alone.”

Ann also released three solo albums, and she and Nancy teamed up as an acoustic group under the name The Lovemongers.

She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 as a member of Heart.

Wilson will kick off a summer tour on July 7 in Toronto. She’s also featured on Dolly Parton’s upcoming album, Rockstar, joining the country legend on a version of Heart’s “Magic Man.”

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Rock band INXS will be the subject of a new book being released this fall by Petrol Records, UMe and uDiscover Music, along with This Day In Music Books.

Calling All Nations – A Fan History Of INXS, dropping October 3, aims to recount the history of the Aussie rockers through the stories and memories of their dedicated fanbase. The group’s surviving members —  brothers Andrew Farriss, Jon Farriss and Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry Gary Beers — have also contributed to the project.

“We are thrilled to have our fans come together to tell the story of INXS in their own words,” Pengilly shares. “Their support and passion have been instrumental in our success, and we are honored to have their contributions be a part of this book.” He adds it’s “a testament to the enduring legacy of INXS, and we hope it will continue to inspire and connect fans for generations to come.” 

Calling All Nations will be released in three different editions: a limited hardcover edition; Special Edition box set, with items from the band’s history; and a Super Deluxe box set autographed by band members.

Calling All Nations is available for preorder now.

INXS gained international stardom in the ’80s and ’90s thanks to hits like “What You Need,” “Need You Tonight,” “Never Tear Us Apart” and “New Sensation.” A lot of that fame was thanks to their charismatic lead singer, Michael Hutchence, who took his own life in November 1997. The band did go on following Hutchence’s death, first with lead singer JD Fortune, who they found on the reality show Rock Star: INXS, and then later with Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Gribbin. They gave their last performance in November 2012.

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Pat Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo have appeared to respond after Sen. Ted Cruz invoked Benatar’s name in a rant against Democrats and President Joe Biden.

It happened during an appearance on Joe Pagliarulo’s conservative talk show, after the host asked Cruz whether there was any chance of seeing a Biden impeachment and conviction.  

“I don’t think Senate Democrats, if you had video of Joe Biden murdering children dressed as the devil under a full moon while singing Pat Benatar, they still wouldn’t vote to convict,” Cruz responded, baffling many who couldn’t understand why he chose to single out Benatar’s music as being a symbol of evil.

As for Benatar and Giraldo’s response, they took to Facebook and simply posted, “Nice Try.” And while they didn’t specifically say they were replying to Cruz, it’s clear by all the comments people believe that was the reason for the post. Variety notes that Benatar’s publicist said she wouldn’t comment further on the subject.

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Bob Dylan has plenty of his own songs he can play in concert, but at his show at Plaza de Toros Alicante in Spain Thursday, June 15, he broke out a surprise cover of someone else’s classic. Fan-shot footage posted to YouTube shows Dylan performing Van Morrison’s 1970 track “Into The Mystic.”

While this is the first time Dylan has performed the tune, it’s not the first time he’s covered one of Morrison’s songs, with Rolling Stone noting he’s covered tunes like “Crazy Love,” “Carrying A Torch” and more in the past.

Morrison has also been covering Dylan tracks for years, including “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” which appeared on his 1966 album, Them Again, as well as “Just Like A Woman” and “I Shall Be Released.” In 1998 the pair even toured together. 

Dylan is currently on the European leg of his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour. He plays a second night at the Plaza de Toros Alicante on Saturday, June 17. A complete list of dates can be found at bobdylan.com.

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Bruce Springsteen has a reputation for playing three-hour concerts, and it sounds like Paul McCartney isn’t happy about it.

The Beatles legend sat down for a chat with Conan O’Brien at the Tribeca Festival in New York Thursday, June 15, and, according to USA Today, complained a bit about the trend of longer concerts. He joked, “I blame Bruce Springsteen. I told him so. I said, ‘It’s your fault!’”

When Conan noted, “He ruined it for everyone,” McCartney agreed.

“We used to do a half hour. That was like The Beatles’ thing – and we got paid for it. I tried to work out, ‘Why was it so short?’ Well, because there was a lot of people on the (lineup),” he said. “When you went to a thing, if you were a comedian, the promoter would say, ‘How long can you do? Four minutes?’ And the guy would say yes. So we thought, ‘Half an hour – that’s epic!’ But that was it.” 

He adds, “With a Beatles show, we were on and off like that, and it didn’t seem strange.”

Of course, McCartney concerts have gotten longer, with his last show at the U.K. Glastonbury Festival consisting of 38 songs.

McCartney was in New York promoting his new photography book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, which is out now.

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Pretenders have released the second single off their upcoming album, Relentless. 

The latest is the album’s closing track, “I Think About You Daily,” which features Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, who provided the string arrangement and conducted the 12 Ensemble on the song.

“I met Jonny a couple of times and we’re obviously big fans of him because he’s done some incredible music over the years,” Chrissie Hynde shares, noting she was “thrilled and very surprised” when he said he wanted to do something together.

Relentless, which is now dropping September 15 due to production delays, is the follow-up to 2020’s Hate for Sale. It’s the second consecutive album where Hynde and Pretenders guitarist James Walbourne collaborated on all the songwriting. 

Relentless is available for preorder now.

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Fleetwood Mac’s classic tune “Don’t Stop” is featured in a new short film for Greenpeace, which was executive produced by 12 Years A Slave director Steve McQueen.

Variety reports the song’s writer, the late Fleetwood Mac keyboardist and singer Christine McVie, gave the organization the rights to use the song before she passed away in November 2022. The version in the clip was produced by Fraser T. Smith and is performed by Future Utopia. It features rapper Avelino, vocals from the House Gospel Choir and music from jazz talent development organization Tomorrow’s Warriors.

“This is no ordinary cover: ‘Don’t Stop’ is a contemporary fable about being young in the world today,” reads a description of the clip. “The song is a call to action for people worried about their future and the state of the planet, and a rallying cry for those who dream of a better tomorrow. Together we can stand up to the fossil fuel industry.” 

The video, directed by Samona Olanipekun, is set at an extravagant party where guests are celebrating to excess, although some, including Guardians of the Galaxy 3’s Will Poulter, start to wake up and realize the reality of the situation. 

Olanipekun shares, “My film is a metaphor for the climate crisis – things feel like they’re falling apart around us, while those in power continue with business as usual. The guests who snap out of the trance represent those brave enough to confront the truth. People everywhere are facing climate catastrophe – it’s time for us to wake up, and shake up, the fossil fuel industry. Together, we are stronger, and every voice makes us louder.”

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