Classic Hits

Stevie Wonder has paid tribute to guitar legend Jeff Beck, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 78.

“He was a great soul who did great music,” Wonder told the Detroit Free Press. “I’m glad that I was able to meet him and have him in my life, giving some of his gift to my music.”

Wonder and Beck met in 1972 as Wonder was recording Talking Book, the follow-up to his classic Music of the Mind. They wound up working together on some tracks. 

“I really didn’t know too much about him,” Wonder said. “But then I heard him play in New York. We were working on ‘Lookin’ for Another Pure Love’ (in the studio) and I said to him, ‘Why don’t you play on this?’ He thought that would be great. He laid one part down, then another part and another part. It was just amazing.”

Wonder added, “It was just a wonderful thing, the whole deal. … It was great. He put his touch on it. It was just really cool.” 

This relationship led to both Wonder and Beck recording the classic “Superstition.” In fact, it was Wonder who encouraged Beck to record the tune, which appeared on the 1973 self-titled debut of Beck’s band Beck, Bogert & Appice.

Wonder’s version wasn’t supposed to be Talking Book‘s lead single, but the label insisted, and it wound up being released before Beck’s and went on to be a huge hit. While some have suggested it caused tension in their relationship, Wonder says that’s not true. In fact, the pair came together to perform it at a 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert.

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As previously reported, Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were among the people who gathered together in Malibu earlier this week for a “Celebration of Life” for their Fleetwood Mac bandmate Christine McVie, who passed away in November. In an Instagram post Thursday, Mick shared the eulogy he wrote for her.

Calling it a “beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman and an incredible talent,” Mick first shared a poem he wrote for McVie after she passed away: “This is a day where my dear, sweet friend Christine McVie has taken flight. And left us Earthbound folks to listen with bated breath to the sounds of that ‘songbird.’ Part of my heart has flown away today … I will miss everything about you Christine McVie. Memories abound … they fly to me.”

Mick said he believes Christine “would have been truly amazed at all the attention and celebrations of her music around the world,” noting, “She is being remembered everywhere. Just as her song says, ‘I want to be with you everywhere,’ and she is.”

“It’s with a sense of gratitude and thanks to the Fleetwood Mac family that we are a part of … and losing such a magical component has sparked a celebration of what Christine means to us,” he concluded. “We all miss her as a family member, as a friend, an artist, a performer, and God knows, a writer of excellence. And those years sharing life together will always be remembered.”

Read the complete eulogy here.

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At November’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, the members of Duran Duran read a letter from their original guitarist Andy Taylor, revealing he has stage four prostate cancer. Now, in a new interview, he’s opening up about his cancer battle.

Talking to UK TV 5 News, Andy says he first realized something was wrong at age of 56 after experiencing an “arthritic sort of pain” while out jogging, and says he began to have these “symptoms, and didn’t recognize them for what they could be.” He then noticed “what felt like tumors” on his neck, and a biopsy revealed the cancer was stage four metastatic, which he called “a death sentence,” saying, “no one can be prepared” for that news.

The 61-year-old Taylor now hopes to encourage others to get tested, and suggests women, who he realizes comprise the bulk of the Duran Duran fan base, do their part to get their men to get tested, saying ladies should “give them a nudge, go get a test.” 

“Every minute is like an hour, every day is like a week,” Andy explains. “You really want to get the most out of life. And I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve had so much in terms of living the dream.”

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As previously reported, Peter Frampton is set to headline a free show in the Nashville area later this month, and fans who can’t make it will be able to enjoy it. At least at some point.

The already sold-out concert, presented by Sky Arts, is set to take place January 22 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Tucker Theatre in Murfreesboro. Frampton has now revealed that it’s being recorded for a special broadcast. So far there’s no word on when or where the broadcast will air.

Getting a chance to see Frampton perform these days is a pretty big deal for fans, especially since in 2019 he announced he was retiring from touring due to a progressive muscle disorder. His last performance was back in August at a Buddy Holly 85th birthday celebration.

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Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks continue to add dates to their co-headlining tour.

Billed as “two icons – one night,” the latest concert is set to go down October 7 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Tickets go on sale January 20 at 10 a.m.

The joint shows seem to be turning into a full-fledged tour. Billy and Stevie kick things off March 10 at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, with confirmed dates in Arlington, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri; Foxbourgh, Massachusetts; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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A new musical with a score by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim is headed to Broadway later this year, Variety reports.

Hear Lies Love, which originally played at New York’s Public Theatre 10 years ago, and had runs in London and Seattle, is described as a “disco pop” musical that puts audiences in an immersive setting. Its story is a dramatic telling of the Philippines’ former first lady Imleda Marcos‘ rise to power and then her hard downfall.

The musical will begin preview performances at the Broadway Theatre on June 17 and then open July 20. 

The immersive nature of the show has been an issue with making it to Broadway, but according to the announcement, the plan is to “transform the venue’s traditional proscenium floor space into a dance club environment, where audiences will stand and move with the actors.” Because of this, fans will be able to buy both standing and seating options to see the show.

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A-ha is celebrating their 1985 debut album, Hunting High and Low, with a new vinyl box set. The six-LP set, dropping February 24, will be made up of the original album, including their huge hit “Take On Me” and “The Sun Always Shines On TV,” along with demos, extended versions, alternative mixes and B-sides. 

“Recording Hunting High And Low was such a defining moment and an exciting time in our career and joint collaboration,” the band shares, “so revisiting this body of work now – more than 30 years later – feels like inspiration rather than obligation.”

The set will be housed in a collectable rigid slipcase box, along with a 64-page booklet with photography and liner notes. Fans can preorder it here. 

Released in October 1985, Hunting High and Low has been certified Platinum in the United States and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Its hit single “Take On Me” went to number one in the U.S. and 14 other countries, with the iconic video being viewed more than 1.5 billion times on YouTube.

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In 2007 ASIA set out on a world tour to celebrate their 25th anniversary, and now one of those shows is being released on vinyl for the first time.

The band announced Fantasia Live In Tokyo 2007, which was originally released on CD and DVD, is set to drop February 24 as a three-LP set, featuring a booklet that includes band photos and sleeve notes. The 18-track LP includes performances of songs from the band’s 1982 self-titled debut album, including hits “Only Time Will Tell” and “Heat of the Moment,” as well as select songs from the 1983 follow-up Alpha, and songs from the band members’ previous bands.

The 25th anniversary tour featured a reformation of the band’s original lineup: lead vocalist/bassist John Wetton from King Crimson, guitarist Steve Howe of Yes, keyboardist Geoff Downes also of Yes and drummer Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Fans can preorder the album here.

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Joni Mitchell is set to receive yet another prestigious honor. The singer will be honored with the 2023 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, handed out by the Library of Congress.

“This is a very prestigious award,” Mitchell said in statement. “Thank you for honoring me.”

Mitchell will be feted with a tribute concert taking place March 1 in Washington, D.C., which will air on PBS March 31 at 9 p.m. So far no artists have been announced for the tribute.

The new honor comes about a year after Mitchell was celebrated as the Recording Academy’s MusiCares Person of the Year.

The Gershwin Prize has been handed out since 2007, with Paul Simon the first honoree. Last year Lionel Richie received the award, with Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Carole King and Stevie Wonder among the previous honorees.

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Genesis is set to drop the new collection BBC Broadcasts on March 3, which will feature Genesis performances recorded by the BBC between 1970 and 1998.

The set, curated by founding member Tony Banks, will be released as a 53-track, five-CD set, as well as a 24-track, three-LP set, with many of the songs being released on vinyl for the first time. Only a handful of the songs have previously gotten an official release. 

BBC Broadcasts will include music from Genesis’ three lead vocalists — Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins and Ray Wilson — and such songs as “Home By The Sea,” “Mama,” “Duchess,” “Carpet Crawlers,” “No Son Of Mine” and “Turn It On Again.”

It will include the band’s iconic 1987 Wembley concert, which was previously released as a DVD only, as well as a 1980 show at London’s Lyceum. A 1978 and a 1992 performance at Knebworth also made the cut, plus a Paris Theater performance from the ’70s. 

Fans can preorder the set here.

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