Classic Hits

Louise Harrison, the older sister of George Harrison who has been credited with helping The Beatles break in America, passed away Sunday at an assisted living facility in Florida, The Mirror reports. She was 91.

The news was revealed on Harrison’s Facebook page, where friends, including Marty Scott, a member of Beatles tribute group Liverpool Legend, wrote that Louise died “painlessly and peacefully.”

Louise moved to the U.S. with her first husband in the 1950s, and she helped promote The Beatles in the U.S. as they were just starting out. She’d contact radio and TV stations trying to get them a break, which finally happened when an Illinois radio station played “From Me To You” in 1963.

It would only be a matter of months before they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, which helped propel them to stardom.

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Bryan Adams is bringing his tour to North America this year. The “Cuts Like A Knife” singer just announced dates for his So Happy It Hurts tour, featuring special guest Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

The tour kicks off June 6 in Baltimore, Maryland, and hits big cities like Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Nashville and Los Angeles before wrapping August 3 in Seattle, Washington. 

Tickets go on sale Friday, February 3, at 12 p.m. local time. A complete list of tour dates can be found at bryanadams.com. 

The tour news comes as Bryan kicks off a four-night stand in Las Vegas February 1 at the Encore Theater at the Wynn Las Vegas. He’s there through Saturday, February 5.

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The lineup for Sunday’s Grammy Awards just got bigger, with the latest talent helping the show pay tribute to some of the artists we lost in the past year.

This year’s In Memoriam segment is set to feature a special tribute to Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie, featuring a performance of her classic tune “Songbird” by her bandmate Mick Fleetwood, along with Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt.

The show will also include tributes to Loretta Lynn, with Kacey Musgraves performing “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” and Migos rapper Takeoff, featuring Quavo and Maverick City Music performing “Without You.” 

The 65th annual Grammy Awards air Sunday at 8 p.m. on CBS live from Los Angeles.

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Cyndi Lauper is among this year’s first-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees, and she calls the recognition “an honor and a thrill.”

“Seeing my name on this year’s ballot with so many talents that I admire means so much to me,” she shares. “It has been a lifetime privilege to reach so many different kinds of fans with a message of following your own path (and having fun along the way, too).” She adds, “To my wonderful fans: Thank you for your support and love over the years!”

The Spinners are also in the running this year, their fourth nomination, and founding member Henry Fambrough is hoping this is the year they finally get in.

“It’s a pleasure being selected by this,” he tells Billboard. “We’ve been in this position over years and years, but we just haven’t won anything yet. But it’s a pleasure being selected like this.” He adds, “When you’re nominated like that, at least someone is thinking about you. You’re not sitting at home not hearing anything — you know what I’m saying?” 

Fan voting is open now through April 28 at rockhall.com, and the top five vote-getters will quality for the “fan’s ballot,” which will help determine this year’s inductees. This year’s Hall of Fame class will be announced in May, with the induction ceremony taking place this fall.

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On this day: February 1, 1972

Neil Young released his fourth studio album, Harvest, which went on to be a classic and signature album for him. The record peaked at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart and became the bestselling album of 1972.

Harvest featured two classic Young songs, “Heart of Gold,” which went to number one on the Hot 100, and “Old Man,” which landed in the Top 40. Other songs on the album include “The Needle and the Damage Done” and “A Man Needs a Maid.” 

The album featured special appearances by London Symphony Orchestra, as well as background vocals from guests like David Crosby, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills and James Taylor.

In December 2022, Young released a 50th anniversary edition of Harvest that included, among other things, a previously unseen two-hour documentary filmed in 1971 that focuses on the making of the album.

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Elton John‘s 1972 album Honky Château celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, but we’re getting the 50th anniversary edition of the album this year.

Due out March 24, the package is available to preorder now as a two-CD or two-LP set. Additionally, the original album pressed on limited edition gold vinyl is available.

The CD version includes the original album, plus outtakes from the original session tapes, and eight live recordings from a show Elton and the band did at London’s Royal Festival Hall. It also comes with a 40-page booklet of photos and interviews with those who were there at the time.

The two-LP set includes the album, outtakes, and an eight-page booklet of photos and interviews.

Honky Château was the first of Elton’s six consecutive Billboard number-one albums. Elton, Bernie Taupin and the band decamped to a residential recording studio in France called Château d’Hérouville to make the album, hence the album’s title.

At night, Taupin wrote lyrics and left them on Elton’s piano for him to work on in the morning. In a statement, Elton recalls, “The first morning we were there, I had three (songs) done by the time the band drifted downstairs looking for something to eat,” including “Rocket Man.”

You can get a preview of the album Wednesday with the release of two of its tracks: a session demo of the fan-favorite deep cut “Mellow” and the Royal Festival Hall live version of “Rocket Man.” Other notable tracks on the album include “Honky Cat” and “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters.” 

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When The Police released their Greatest Hits album in 1992, only a limited run of vinyl copies were made available to fans. Well, now fans and vinyl collectors have a second shot at getting their hands on one.

On March 24, The Police Greatest Hits, described as “a perfect introduction to the Police for new admirers,” will get a special double-LP reissue on 180g heavyweight black vinyl. The new release was remastered at Abbey Road Studios.

The set features 16 classic Police tunes, including their number one single “Every Breath You Take,” along with hits like “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” “Message In a Bottle” and “Don’t Stand So Close To Me.”

The album is available for preorder now.

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Nominees for the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame have been revealed, with Cyndi Lauper, the late George Michael, Kate Bush, Willie Nelson and the late Warren Zevon in the running this year. 

Other nominees include The Spinners, Sheryl Crow, Joy Division/New Order, Missy Elliott, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, A Tribe Called Quest, The White Stripes and Iron Maiden. 

“This remarkable list of Nominees reflects the diverse artists and music that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame honors and celebrates,” John Sykes, chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, says. “These artists have created their own sounds that have impacted generations and influenced countless others that have followed in their footsteps.” 

Many of this year’s contenders are receiving their first nomination this year, including Lauper, Michael, Nelson, Zevon, Crow and Joy Division/New Order, with The White Stripes and Missy Elliott landing their first nod in their first year of eligibility.

Fan voting is open now through April 28 at rockhall.com, and the top five vote-getters will quality for the “fan’s ballot,” which will help determine this year’s inductees. This year’s Hall of Fame class will be announced in May.

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Jon Bon Jovi is thanking fans for their continued support following the news that Bon Jovi’s video for “Livin’ on a Prayer” has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube.

“Just callin’ out to say thank you to everybody on YouTube for our 1 billionth view of the ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ video,” he shared in a video message on Instagram. “Guess you liked it. We liked it, too. Thank you everybody for continuing to support Bon Jovi for 40 years.”

He then teased fans with what’s in store for the coming year, saying there are “lots of big things in the works for our 40th anniversary, so get ready for that.”

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AXS TV is bringing back its Sunday Night Rocks lineup starting February 19, which will include the brand new original series Rockstar Shuffle.

Rockstar Shuffle, kicking off at 8 p.m. ET, will feature rock icons sharing stories and memories from their careers, and showing off their personal music memorabilia. Twisted Sister‘s Dee Snider and Run DMC’s Darryl McDaniels are featured in the premiere episode, with Heart‘s Ann Wilson, Sammy Hagar, Ted Nugent and more featured in future episodes. 

Season 1 will also include appearances by Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, The Who’s Roger Daltrey, Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, Rick Springfield, John Oates and others.

Sunday Night Rocks’ February 19 premiere also features the return of Parking Lot Payday, with Mötley Crüe fans being tested to find out how much they know about the rockers, followed by an airing of Mötley Crüe: The End – Live In Los Angeles.

And on February 26, Metallica fans will be the subject of an episode of Parking Lot Payday, follow

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