Classic Hits

King Charles III’s coronation is happening May 6, and Yusuf/Cat Stevens is sending a message to the monarch with the just-released new tune “King of a Land.” It’s the title track of Yusuf/Stevens’ new album, which drops June 16. 

“One of the privileges of being an artist is to express what seems unimaginable, and then hang it up there for people to ponder; we can say things that others can’t,” the singer shares. “Sure, I know full well music can’t necessarily solve the world’s problems, but it can help to direct the narrative. There are a few aspirations in my song, ‘King of a Land,’ that I hope resonate with His Majesty.”

Along with the song, Yusuf/Stevens has shared his manifesto for what he believes makes a good king, including:

Even if you are a King, you are still a servant of God.
Remove hatred through education and spread peace.
Feed the hungry.
We are all humans that make mistakes, so be forgiving.
Help the sick and homeless.
Beware of negative people in your circle.
Everyone has a part to play, teach them to work together.
Be just and don’t show favoritism.
Listen to constructive criticism.
Be a guardian to all faiths, and the precious Earth we all share.

Yusuf/Stevens notes, “The major message of the song – and this applies to all those in positions of leadership – is, don’t forget that there’s One above you, and be careful to look out for those who are below you.”

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The public is about to get a good look at Freddie Mercury’s London home, Garden Lodge, which has remained practically unchanged in the past 30 years. Sotheby’s is hosting a series of exhibitions, dubbed Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, giving fans a peek inside the Queen frontman’s estate.

Highlights of the auction, which was curated by Mercury’s good friend Mary Austin, will be on display at Sotheby’s galleries this summer, hitting New York June 1-8, followed by Los Angeles June 14-18 and Hong Kong June 26-30. It will then move to London for a monthlong exhibit that will display almost 1,500 items. That exhibit will run from August 4 to September 5, which would have been Mercury’s 77th birthday.

Among the items up for grabs: the replica St Edward’s Crown and robe Freddie wore to perform “God Save The Queen” during Queen’s 1986 The Magic Tour; handwritten working lyrics to “We Are The Champions” and “Killer Queen”; a military-style jacket Mercury wore for his 39th birthday party drag ball in 1985; a Tiffany & Co. silver mustache comb; and the silk waistcoat Mercury wore in his final video for “These Are The Days Of Our Lives.”

All together there will be six dedicated Mercury auctions, according to a release, including a live Evening Sale on September 6. There will also be an auction dedicated to Mercury On Stage on September 7, and an At Home auction on September 8. Plus, there will be three online auctions: one dedicated to his love of Japan and two “Crazy Little Things” auctions, featuring some of Mercury’s more eclectic items. 

A portion of the proceeds from the auctions will be donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John Aids Foundation. More details can be found at Sothebys.com.

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Yes is giving fans another taste of their upcoming album. The band, currently made up of Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood and Jay Schellen, just released the new tune “All Connected,” the second single they’ve shared from their upcoming album, Mirror To The Sky, which drops May 19.

“The initial idea came from a musical sketch I’d created using the idea of our ‘connectivity’ in regard to communications in the modern age,” Sherwood shares. “It’s very exciting to know Yes are maintaining that edge and energy we all know and love.”

He added, “This track is firing on all cylinders. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did creating it.” 

Mirror to the Sky is available for preorder now and comes in a variety of formats, including a limited deluxe box set, featuring transparent electric blue double vinyl, two CDs and a Blu-ray, with a 36-page hardcover book, a poster and more.

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On This Day, April 26, 1978 …

The concert documentary The Last Waltz, about The Band’s farewell concert, opened in theaters.

The movie, directed by Martin Scorsese, focused on The Band’s Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1976, show at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, which was billed as their “farewell concert appearance.”

The show featured guest appearances by a whole host of musicians, including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Dr. John, Ronnie Wood, Muddy Waters, Neil Diamond, Van Morrison and Neil Young.

Considered one of the greatest concert documentaries of all time, in 2019 the film was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress for the National Film Registry.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd revealed in March they decided to go on following the death of guitarist and original member Gary Rossington, and Skynyrd guitarist Rickey Medlocke thinks it’s a decision that just makes sense for the band. 

Medlocke tells ABC Audio that the band, management and the families of Gary, Johnny Van Zandt and the others got together and decided, “Let the band go out and honor and pay tribute to what was great music and a great band.” Because at the end of the day, Medlocke notes, “We are still players, we love to perform. Lynyrd Skynyrd has always been a live entity, even the old band. The original band was a live entity.” 

In fact, he says playing live was always what was important to them, sharing, “We grew up in a time, Johnny and myself, Gary, we never thought about being rock stars. We thought about going out and making our living playing music.” 

And while Medlocke knows there will be some music fans who question the decision to go on, he’s not losing sleep over it.

“At some point, of course, all good things come to an end,” he says. “And for all those people out there that, you know, at one time or another beat us up over doing whatever we’re doing, guess what? At some point we’ll be gone and then they can go on to somebody else and beat somebody else up.” 

Until that happens, fans have plenty of chances to see Lynyrd Skynyrd live. They’re set to play Brandon, Mississippi, on Saturday, April 29. And they kick off their Sharp Dressed Simple Man tour with ZZ Top on Friday, July 21. A complete list of dates can be found at lynyrdskynyrd.com. 

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Frankie Goes to Hollywood is getting back together.

The classic lineup — Holly Johnson, Brian Nash, Paul Rutherford, Mark O’Toole and Peter Gill — is reuniting to perform at the opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest, their first time playing together in 36 years. 

The band, best known for such ’80s hits as “Relax,” “Two Tribes” and “The Power of Love,” is celebrating the fact that this year’s Eurovision contest is taking place in their home city of Liverpool, England.

Nash tells the BBC that getting back together “felt like a good thing to do” for their home city, noting that he moved back to Liverpool three years ago and the reaction from people has been “always massively positive, uplifting and heartwarming.” 

The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony is happening May 7, with the finals set for May 13.

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Before the tickets for U2’s Las Vegas residency have even gone on sale, the band is extending their stay in Sin City. 

Noting that there have already been over 1 million requests for tickets, the Irish rockers just announced seven additional dates for U2: UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere, bringing the total number of shows to 12 … so far.

The additional shows, at the new venue the Sphere at The Venetian, all take place in October – October 11, 13, 14, 18, 20, 21 and 25.

Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan registration remains open until Wednesday, April 26, at 10 am ET, with Verified Fan presale beginning Thursday, April 27.

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Little Feat is set to release remastered deluxe editions of two of their classic albums, 1972’s Sailin’ Shoes and 1973’s Dixie Chicken.

The deluxe edition of Sailin’ Shoes will include previously unreleased outtakes from the album’s recording session, including alternative versions of “Cold Cold Cold,” “Apolitical Blues” and “Willin’.” There’s also a previously unreleased concert recorded August 28, 1971, at the Palladium in Los Angeles.

The deluxe edition of Dixie Chicken also includes unreleased session recordings, including alternative versions of “Roll Um Easy,” “On Your Way Down” and “Juliette.” There’s also a live concert recorded on March 1, 1973, at Paul’s Mall in Boston.

The newly remastered deluxe editions of both albums will be released June 23. They will both be released as a two-CD and three-LP 180-gram vinyl set and are available for preorder now.

And Little Feat fans will be able to hear them play these albums live this fall when they kick off their The Albums Tour. The tour consists of the band playing each album in its entirety, one at each show. The Albums Tour kicks off September 29 at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. A complete list of dates can be found at littlefeat.net.

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Grammy-winning songwriter/producer Desmond Child is ready to tell his story. Child, who has written hits for artists like Bon Jovi, KISS, Aerosmith, Katy Perry and Ricky Martin, is set to release his memoir, Livin’ On A Prayer: Big Songs Big Life, on September 19, featuring a forward by KISS’ Paul Stanley.

“The process of writing the book has been more than cathartic. It has been revelatory,” Child shares. “Not until I went through the deep and sometimes painful experience of writing this book did I realize the great adventure I’d been living … an adventure I’m thrilled to share with the world.” 

Child, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008, has been responsible for more than 80 Billboard Top 40 singles, with his hits having sold more than 500 million records worldwide. Some of the hits he’s had a hand in include Bon Jovi classics “Livin’ On A Prayer” and “You Give Love A Bad Name,” KISS’ “I Was Made For Lovin’ You,” Aerosmith’s “Dude (Looks Like A Lady),” Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts‘ “I Hate Myself For Lovin’ You” and Perry’s “Wakin’ Up In Vegas.”

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Lionel Richie is extending his time in Las Vegas.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has just announced a new set of Las Vegas residency dates at the Encore Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas. He’s changing things up for fans, promising an all-new show, Lionel Richie: King of Hearts.

The new show will debut with six concerts, set for October 11, 13-14, 18 and 20-21.

A ticket presale kicks off Wednesday, April 26, at 10 a.m. local time, with the general sale set for Friday, April 28, at 10 a.m. local time.

A complete list of Richie dates can be found at LionelRichie.com.

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