Classic Hits

Bruce Springsteen took a moment during night one of his Tonight Show takeover on Monday to clear up some popular myths surrounding the legendary rocker.

As to whether he really sleeps with a guitar next to him, so that in case he dreams up a song he can immediately wake up and record it, Springsteen admitted, “I have done that.”

Noting that both he and Taylor Swift are mounting U.S. tours in 2023, and both are friends with frequent Swift collaborator Jack Antonoff, host Jimmy Fallon asked if either Bruce or Taylor would “pop into each other’s shows from time to time.”

“Well, I will be, because my daughter is gonna make sure. I will be at the Taylor Swift show,” Bruce confirmed, adding, “And she’s welcome on E Street anytime.”

Finally, Springsteen was asked if he could solve an argument on Twitter regarding a line from the song “Thunder Road,” from Bruce’s 1975 album Born to Run — Is it “A screen door slams, Mary’s dress sways,” or “A screen door slams, Mary’s dress waves?”

Pulling out a copy of the album, Bruce explained that he was “insane about every little detail” regarding the album. “The lyrics for ‘Thunder Road,” are in this album — the correct lyrics. “Now I’ve been singing ‘Sways’ for almost 50 years,” he told the audience, before revealing the lyrics included with the album — “The screen door slams, Mary’s dress waves.”

“This is wrong,” he finally revealed, pointing to the album.

Springsteen, who’s promoting his new album Only the Strong Survive, will appear on the NBC show two more times this week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, and on November 24 during the show’s Thanksgiving episode.

The Boss also performed “Do I Love You” from the album.

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Artists like Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan have sold the rights to their catalogs in recent years, and the latest catalog that’s been snapped up is that of the late Harry Nilsson.

The Grammy Award winner’s song publishing catalog has been acquired by BMG in a deal with his estate that also includes artist and writer revenue streams of his classic tunes. The company also plans to team up with Nilsson’s family on possible future projects in areas of film, television, books and more.

Nilsson, who passed away in 1994, had a two-decade-long career and is best known for such songs as “Without You”; “Everybody’s Talkin’” from the soundtrack to 1969’s Midnight Cowboy; and “One,” which was recorded by Three Dog Night, as well as such albums as Nilsson Schmilsson and Son of Schmilsson. He also collaborated with several big names, including co-writing “Mucho Mungo/Mt. Elga” and “Old Dirt Road” with John Lennon and “How Long Can Disco On” with Ringo Starr.

“We are delighted to have found a partner that shares our love and reverence for Harry’s legacy,” Nilsson’s family shares in a statement. “We look forward to a long relationship with BMG, working together to celebrate this true genius of pop music.”

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Arlo Gurthrie decided to retire in 2020, but evidently it didn’t take: He’s going back on the road.

Speaking to Billboard, the folk music legend, who suffered a number of strokes in 2019, explains, “I decided I could recuperate better in front of a live audience, rather than just sit at home, and [my wife and I] both agreed I should get back out there as part of my rehabilitation.”

“There’s nothing like playing before a live audience,” he adds. But Guthrie’s new tour will feature more talking than playing. Called What’s Left of Me — A Conversation with Bob Santelli, the four-city theater trek is described as a “storytelling tour.” Guthrie will discuss his life and career with Santelli, the executive director of LA’s Grammy Museum. He’ll also talk about his famous dad, Woody Guthrie.

The shows will take place in Boston on April 1; Albany, New York, on April 21; West Long Branch, New Jersey, on April 28; and Stowe, Vermont, on May 27.

Guthrie, 75, says the stroke has affected his ability to play music, which is why he describes the show to Billboard as “a conversation between two people with maybe some music included.”

“I would rather have it that way,” he says. “There may be some young people who have no idea who I am, but who got dragged to these events by overenthusiastic friends or parents or even grandparents, and you’ve got to reeducate people and tell them where you’ve been and who you’ve been and make it as much fun as possible.”

And don’t worry fans: Guthrie will definitely be telling the story behind his perennial Thanksgiving favorite, “Alice’s Restaurant” aka “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.”

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Newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo have made some new plans for next year. They are set to open dates on Pink’s newly announced Summer Carnival Tour.

The tour, which also features Brandi Carlile, kicks off July 24, with Benatar and Giraldo confirmed for six shows: Boston’s Fenway Park, Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, as well as concerts in Washington, DC, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Until then, Benatar and Giraldo have another exciting project about to launch. Their new show, INVINCIBLE – The Musical, a modern reimagining of Romeo & Juliet featuring their catalog of music, is set to have its world premiere November 22 at The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, California. And fans can get a taste of what to expect when the rockers appear Tuesday on The Late Show with James Corden. In addition to chatting with the host, they’ll join members of the show’s cast to perform a special rendition of Benatar’s classic “Heartbreaker.”

Fans can also catch them being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame when the induction ceremony, held earlier this month in Los Angeles, airs November 19 on HBO and streams on HBO Max.

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The nominees for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame next year have been announced and some of the biggest names in rock are among them.

Patti Smith, all four members of REM, Jeff Lynne of ELO, Bryan Adams, Debbie Harry, Clem Burke and Chris Stein of Blondie, Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons are among this year’s nominees, as well as Michael McDonald of The Doobie Brothers, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart and Steve Winwood.

Other acts who are in the running include Snoop Dogg; country star and Eagles member Vince Gill; Sade [shah-DAY] Adu, frontwoman and songwriter for the band Sade; and Gloria Estefan.

Among the nonperforming songwriters who are nominated for induction are Glen Ballard, probably best known for co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette‘s Jagged Little Pill; and Tommy Boyce  and Bobby Hart, the team who wrote Monkees classics like “Last Train to Clarksville” and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone.”

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Aerosmith has teamed up with the Red Cross to help support relief efforts in Florida following the recent Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Nicole storms.

The “Dream On” rockers are donating two emergency vehicles to be used by the Red Cross of Central Florida. The trucks will debut in 2023 and will be branded with Aerosmith’s logo.

“Aerosmith and I were devastated by the disastrous impact of Hurricane Ian,” says guitarist Joe Perry, who also lives in Florida. “Too often we are seeing these disasters increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change, having a strong Red Cross is more critical than ever before.”

Perry adds, “We’re proud to support the Red Cross and we know these vehicles will be an important tool helping people in need for years to come.”

Aerosmith is also preparing for the return of the band’s Las Vegas residency, which picks up November 19 for another eight-show engagement at the Dolby Live theater at the Park MGM resort.

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Earlier this year, Joni Mitchell was a surprise guest at the Newport Folk Festival, where she performed her first full set of songs in concert in more than 20 years. Fans may soon be able to relive that performance in the form of a live album.

Mitchell sat down with Elton John last weekend for his Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music 1, and during the chat, Elton mentioned that there’s going to be an album coming out documenting that performance. Mitchell confirmed the news, responding, “We’re trying to put that out.” 

During the concert, Mitchell joined superfan Brandi Carlile onstage and sang along with her for most of the 13-song set, which included classics like “Both Sides Now,” “Big Yellow Taxi” and “The Circle Game.”

“It’s extraordinary how good it is,” Elton added. “And you didn’t have much rehearsal, did you?”

“Didn’t have any,” the legendary singer/songwriter replied. She then noted that she was unable to sing in her original key, since she’s now an alto, not a soprano. However, “I thought people might feel slighted if I just played the guitar part … so it was very well received, much to my delight.”

Mitchell also spoke with Elton about getting a lot of flak for her now-classic albums like Blue, Court and Spark, Ladies of the Canyon and The Hissing of Summer Lawns.

“People thought that it was too intimate,” she explained. “It was almost like Dylan going electric. I think it upset the male singer-songwriters. They’d go, ‘Oh, no. Do we have to bear our souls like this now?’ I think it made people nervous … It took to this generation, they seem to be able to face those emotions more easily than my generation.”

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Singer Roberta Flack is no longer able to sing following a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS.

Her management team announced Monday the singer’s ALS symptoms have “made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak.” The statement adds, “But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”

Her team announced, “Miss Flack plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits. Her fortitude and joyful embrace of music that lifted her from modest circumstances to the international spotlight remain vibrant and inspired.”

Flack is said to be looking forward to “a banner year in 2023,” and will pursue a “number of projects and anniversaries” celebrating her career and influence.

Among them is the 50th anniversary of her Grammy-nominated album Killing Me Softly, which is RIAA-certified twice Platinum. The record featured the number-one hit “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” which won the 1973 Grammy for Record of the Year.

Flack’s documentary, Roberta, will air at DOCNYC on November 17 and later on PBS on January 24. It explores how she crafted her music genius and became a powerhouse in the industry.

Flack will also release the children’s book The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music on January 10. “I have long dreamed of telling my story to children about that first green piano that my father got for me from the junkyard in the hope that they would be inspired to reach for their dreams,” the artist said in a statement. “I want them to know that dreams can come true with persistence, encouragement from family and friends, and most of all belief in yourself.”

She’ll also help mark the 75th anniversary of Atlantic Records, which signed her in 1969. 

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KISS‘ End of the Road World Tour has been going on since 2019, but Gene Simmons says it will eventually end, and after that, he promises, “No more touring.”

“We love the fans, and we don’t want to stay on stage too long, but we’re having the time of our lives,” Simmons tells Page Six, noting that they’ve added another 100 cities to the tour. But he says he knows exactly when the band will officially call it quits. 

“I know where and when, but I’m not [revealing yet],” he teases. “I do know the last day and date. But you don’t want to find out what you’re getting for Christmas as a present in July, right?”

He adds, “At the end of that, no more touring.”

Since the band did a “Farewell Tour” from 2000 to 2001, fans could be forgiven for not believing Simmons this time. But as he tells Page Six, “We were honest about it. It wasn’t a trickery or anything. We had the original guys, Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss], who were not performing up to snuff. It had to do with drugs and alcohol. I don’t want to sugarcoat it.”

“We decided…we should probably end it. I don’t want to be up on stage and do a lackluster show,” he explains. “And then as we were about to stop, the fans were saying, ‘Why don’t you just replace them, like a football team?’ We thought about it for a while and we said, ‘Yeah!’”

Simmons also shared his thoughts on his daughter Sophie‘s upcoming wedding.

“I’m not ready. One second she’s just a pair of cheeks with little legs walking around. Next second, she’s a grown woman,” he said. “I’m not ready. But it’s happening. She’s getting married and he’s a great guy.”

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It was a Beatles family reunion over the weekend, starring Paul McCartney and John Lennon‘s son Julian.

“It’s Amazing who you run into in an airport Lounge! None other than Uncle Paul…. So, so lovely, and what are the chances,” Julian tweeted along with a black-and-white photo of himself posing with Macca. Anther photo showed Paul holding up his cell phone, which is displaying Julian’s new album, Jude.

Jude, Julian’s first album in more than 10 years, takes its title from “Hey Jude,” the 1968 Beatles song that McCartney famously wrote for him when he was five years old, to cheer him up after his parents split.

Julian recently told ABC Audio that titling the record Jude partly ties in with his recent decision to legally change his given first name, John, to Julian, which he’s been called since childhood.

“Jules, Jude, me, retrospective, collection of songs from life, taking ownership of the name Jude and/or being me finally…that all made sense to me,” he explained.

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