Classic Hits

Journey is currently on their 50th anniversary tour, and it looks like there’s something special in store for fans going to their upcoming show in Austin, Texas.

Guitarist Neal Schon took to social media to tease what he’s calling a “special surprise” at the February 22 show in Austin. While he didn’t say anything else, fans think they know what it is.

Schon has said in the past that he was hoping to get Journey’s original keyboardist, Gregg Rolie, to join the tour. Fans think that’s what Schon’s teasing, especially since Rolie currently lives near Austin.

“Yes, a surprise… I wonder who lives in Texas,…hmmm, I wonder….who could it be??” one fan commented alongside a keyboard emoji, with another adding, “I’m gonna take a swing and say Mr. Rollie [sic] is gonna join you guys haha I hope my guess is right brother. Love it man, you deserve it.”

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Music producer Steve Albini recently went on a Twitter rant about how much he hates Steely Dan, and now other artists have chimed in on the debate.

“I will always be the kind of punk that sh*ts on Steely Dan,” he tweeted. “Christ the amount of human effort wasted to sound like an SNL band warm up.”

But apparently not everyone agrees with Albini’s take, with rockers like Jenny Lewis and St. Vincent, plus actor Ben Stiller, not afraid to show their love for the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers. 

“i f***ing love steely dan,” wrote Lewis, with Stiller commenting on her tweet, “Me too.” And St. Vincent agrees,  tweeting, “For the record – I F***ING LOVE STEELY DAN.” 

But not everyone disagrees with Albini’s take. Americana artist Jason Isbell chimed in that his wife, fellow Americana artist Amanda Shires, is anti-Steely Dan, too. He tweeted, “My wife hates Steely Dan so much she’s starting a fan group called the Albini Babies.” Albini responded, “Sir please pass on from me to your kind missus the highest appropriate compliment. She is a good woman. And now I’ll leave you be.”

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Duran Duran is extending their time on the road. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have announced dates for their 2023 North American Future Past tour, featuring special guests Bastille and Nile Rodgers & CHIC.

After headlining the Bottlerock Festival in Napa Valley, California, on May 27, the trek kicks off May 28 in San Jose, California, and hits such big cities as Seattle, Austin, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Boston and Philadelphia, before wrapping November 19 in Toronto, Canada. The trek also includes a two-night stand at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

Various presales are set to run from February 13 to 15, with the general sale starting February 16 at 10 a.m. local time. A complete list of tour dates can be found at duranduran.com.

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On this Day, February 8, 1975:

Bob Dylan’s fifteenth studio album Blood on the Tracks enters the Billboard 200 album chart, eventually peaking at number one. 

The album, Dylan’s return to Columbia Records after two albums with Asylum, featured such future classics as “Tangled Up in Blue,” “Idiot Wind,” “Shelter from the Storm” and others.

Considered one of Dylan’s greatest albums, Blood on the Tracks was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015. It has made several best-of album lists, including Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, landing at nine in 2020.

The album was certified double Platinum by the RIAA, and remains one of Dylan’s best-selling studio releases.

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Pat Benatar and husband Neil Giraldo have announced a new set of spring dates that will have them playing venues on the East Coast.

The eight-show run will kick off April 12 in Port Chester, New York, and wrap April 29 in Hollywood, Florida, with tickets set to go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. local time.

The new shows add to the pair’s already busy 2023. They kick off the year with an appearance at the annual Love Rocks Benefit in New York March 9 and will later spend part of their summer opening for Pink on her Summer Carnival stadium tour. Those shows kick off July 31 at Boston’s Fenway Park. 

For a complete list of Pat Benatar/Neil Giraldo dates, check out benatargiraldo.com.

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Madonna introduced Sam Smith and Kim Petras at the Grammy Awards on Wednesday, but all it seemed anyone could talk about was Madonna’s appearance, with many criticizing her for seemingly having had work done in an attempt to look younger and saying she was unrecognizable. Now, Madonna’s taken to Instagram to respond.

“Instead of focusing on what I said in my speech — which was about giving thanks for the fearlessness of artists like Sam and Kim — many people chose to only talk about Close-up photos of me Taken with a long lens camera By a press photographer that Would distort anyone’s face!!” Madonna wrote.

She continued. “Once again I am caught in the glare of ageism and misogyny That permeates the world we live in. A world that refuses to celebrate women past the age of 45 And feels the need to punish her If she continues to be strong willed, hard-working and adventurous.”

The Queen of Pop, who’s 64, then went on to say that she’s “never apologized” for the way she looks or dresses, “and I’m not going to start.” 

“I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career but I understand that this is all a test,” she noted.

“I am happy to do the trailblazing so that all the women behind me can have an easier time in the years to come,” she concluded.  In the words of Beyoncé ‘You-won’t break my soul.’ I look forward to many more years of subversive behavior -pushing boundaries-Standing up to the patriarchy -and Most of all enjoying my life.”

Madonna signed off, “Bow down b***hes!

The star kicks off her 40th Anniversary Celebration Tour later this year.

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The late Warren Zevon is one of the 14 artists in the running for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction this year. It’s his first nomination, and for many fans and folks in the industry, the wait has been way too long.

“Warren Zevon is an artist we have heard about a lot,” the Rock Hall’s Jason Hanley tells ABC Audio. “Many bands have come out and asked us why isn’t he in.” 

Zevon, who passed away in 2003, may not be as well known as some of this year’s other nominees, but he’s certainly made a big impact on his fellow artists. “Warren was not one of those guys the critics didn’t like. I mean, people loved his music at the time,” Hanley shares. He “influenced so many other artists and songwriters over the years.”

“I think it’s great, this is the first time he’s been nominated on the ballot, and I think a lot of fans have been asking for that,” Hanley offers. “I think you might see a lot of people, particularly voters … who are music historians, scholars and other inductees, are really gonna respect the work Warren Zevon has done over the years. So I think, he’s got a real chance to see a lot of votes.”

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Michael Jackson’s huge catalog of music is reportedly the next one to be sold. Sources tell Variety that the late singer’s estate is working on a deal to sell half of its interests in Jackson’s catalog, possibly to Sony and a financial partner.

The deal is reportedly worth between $800 and $900 million. It will have Sony acquiring 50% of the estate’s share of Jackson’s publishing, recorded music and revenues, as well as the Broadway show MJ: The Musical and the upcoming biopic. TMZ adds that one stipulation in the sale is that despite it being a 50/50 deal, the estate is demanding complete management and control.

So far there’s been no comment from any of the interested parties. If it happens, it would be another huge deal for Sony, which reportedly paid between $150 and $200 million for Bruce Springsteen’s publishing and recorded music, and also reportedly paid the same amount for Bob Dylan’s catalog.

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Producer Steve Albini is not a fan of Steely Dan and he let everyone know about it. Albini, who has worked with artists like Nirvana, PJ Harvey and The Pixies, went off on a Twitter rant about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band, writing, “I will always be the kind of punk that sh*ts on Steely Dan.” He added, “Christ the amount of human effort wasted to sound like an SNL band warm up.”

Albini then seemed to shoot down fan arguments about why Steely Dan was so great. “’They spent three weeks on the guitar solo…’ Three weeks of watching guitar players give it their all while doing bumps and hitting the talkback, ‘More *Egyptian* but keep it in the pocket…,'” he wrote.

As for the argument “Their engineer invented a machine to play the bass drum,” he shot back, “Did he now. And yet it sounds like this.” 

He then described two types of perfectionists, offering, “One will prepare, revise and rehearse carefully, with intent, honing an idea to a keen edge, ready to cut the cloth of execution. The other makes other people responsible by saying, ‘do it again,’ until by chance they are satisfied, then take credit.”

He added, “There’s some video where they talk about every song on an album, and each one begins with the not-bald one saying, ‘this song is based on my deep love of the blues, just a very bluesy blues. Deep blues.’ Then lays his jazz dork hands on the f***ing electric piano…”

And if all of that wasn’t enough, at one point he described Steely Dan as “Music made for the sole purpose of letting the wedding band stretch out a little.”

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Bette Midler has worn some outrageous costumes over the years, and now she’s being honored for it. Variety reports the singer/actress will receive the Distinguished Collaborator Award at this month’s 25th annual Costume Designers Guild Awards.

The award honors “individuals who demonstrate unwavering support of costume design and creative partnerships with costume designers.” 

“In my very long career, I have been blessed to work with some of the greatest costume designers ever in the worlds of stage and film,” Bette shares. “It’s been a wild ride, and I am delighted that they have chosen me as their honoree this year; I truly owe them everything. I look forward to thanking each and every one of them; geniuses all.” 

Previous recipients of the Distinguished Collaborator Award include Meryl Streep, Quentin Tarantino, Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy.

The CDGAs are happening February 27 at The Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

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