Classic Hits

ZZ Top has more than two dozen upcoming U.S. shows scheduled this fall as part of the famed Texas trio’s 2022 Raw Whiskey Tour.

Among the concerts are six late-September dates that will feature British rock-guitar legend Jeff Beck as an opening act; the first three also will include a set by Heart frontwoman Ann Wilson.

ZZ Top singer/guitarist Billy Gibbons notes that he’s performed with both Beck and Wilson before and says it’s possible that they may all end up onstage together during the upcoming shows, which are scheduled to take place in three different Texas cities — on September 23 in Del Valle, September 24 in Dallas and September 25 in the Houston suburb of The Woodlands.

“[I]t’s going to be a very interesting gathering, having an expanded lineup on the stage,” Gibbons tells ABC Audio. “Let’s go for it.”

Gibbons also reveals that he recently had a conversation with Beck, one of his guitar heroes, who mentioned a couple of ZZ Top songs he was hoping to jam on with the group.

“He said, ‘Listen … I’ve been polishing my chops. I got ‘La Grange’ down,'” Gibbons reports. “He said, ‘Can we do “Rough Boy”?’ I said, ‘Well, we’ve done it in the past … There’s no reason why we can’t stretch it out.'”

ZZ Top’s upcoming U.S. tour dates are mapped out from a September 17 concert in Catoosa, Oklahoma, through a November 13 show in Pompano Beach, Florida. The band’s 2022 itinerary winds down with a five-date Las Vegas residency at The Venetian Resort, scheduled from December 3 to December 10.

Check out the band’s full schedule at ZZTop.com.

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Anna Gabriel, Peter Gabriel‘s oldest daughter, will publish a photo book titled Eye-D on October 6 that features close-up images of the eyes of dozens of famous music artists and other celebrities, including her father.

Among the many other stars who appear in the book are Debbie Harry, Sting, Mick Fleetwood, Annie Lennox, Paul Simon, the late Tom Petty, U2‘s The Edge, Michael Stipe, Robert Plant, Graham Nash and Nile Rodgers.

“I wanted to offer fans a different way to view their favorite artists, people who have made an impact not only on my life, but millions around the world,” says Anna about the book. “I hope viewers find something new and unexpected each time they look into these eyes. From shooting Michael Stipe, a friend for many years, in his apartment, to Annie Lennox in a hotel room in New York, to Johnny Depp backstage at a show — I have many stories that accompany the photos.”

You can preorder Eye-D now at ACCArtBooks.com.

To celebrate the book’s publication, Morrison Hotel Gallery locations in Los Angles and New York City will host exhibitions of Anna’s photos on October 6 and October 20, respectively.

Before the L.A. exhibit opening, a book signing will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. PT that will also feature a special musical performance.

Meanwhile, on October 20 Anna and her father will appear in conversation at Rizzoli Bookstore at 6 p.m. ET.

In addition to being an accomplished photographer, Anna is a video director whose credits include the 2004 Peter Gabriel documentary Growing Up on Tour: A Family Portrait, and his concert films Still Growing Up and Taking the Pulse.

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The suspects accused of robbing Mariah Carey‘s home in Atlanta while she was on vacation were part of a larger effort to use social media and TV to target wealthy people and celebrities, according to a 220-count indictment handed up last week in Fulton County, Georgia.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis announced at a news conference that 26 alleged members of the Drug Rich gang carried out home invasions and burglaries over the past year. Of the 26 people charged in the racketeering case, 18 are in custody.

According to Willis, Mariah was only one of a number of celebrities targeted. Others included Real Housewives of Atlanta star Marlo Hampton, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Calvin Ridley, Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan and a woman who has a child with rapper Future.

“What they did was target people who showed their wealth on social media,” Willis said, then warned stars and influencers to avoid showing off online. 

In Mariah’s case, she had posted on Instagram that she was on vacation, so authorities believe the gang targeted her because they knew she wasn’t in Atlanta.

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A major new exhibition called “Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles Country-Rock” will open at Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on September 30.

“Western Edge” will look at the country-influenced artists who emerged from the L.A. rock scene between the 1960s and the 1980s and helped create the country-rock genre, including The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Gram Parsons, the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt.

To mark the arrival of the new exhibit, a series of special events are scheduled to take place at the institution from September 30 to October 2, including panel discussions, concerts, film screenings and more.

On September 30, a concert will be held at the CMA Theater that will include performances by original Byrds member Chris Hillman, founding Eagles guitarist Bernie Leadon, founding Buffalo Springfield singer/guitarist Richie Furay, Vince Gill, members of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and others.

On October 1, Furay will host a songwriter’s session at Ford Theater, while Hillman, Leadon, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s John McEuen and others will participate in a discussion about bluegrass music’s influence on the L.A. country-rock scene at the same venue.

On October 2, the 2019 documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice will be screened at Ford Theater and a reunion concert by Hillman’s post-Byrds group The Desert Rose Band will be held at CMA Theater.

The exhibit itself will feature such artifacts as stage costumes belonging to The Flying Burrito Brothers, a Fender Telecaster that Leadon played with the Eagles, a stage costume worn by The Monkees‘ Michael Nesmith and much more.

Meanwhile, a “Western Edge”-inspired playlist has debuted at Amazon Music, and a companion book will be released on September 30, coinciding with the exhibit’s opening.

Visit CountryMusicHallofFame.org for more information.

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Ex-Fleetwood Mac singer/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham was a surprise guest at modern rockers The Killers‘ concert on Saturday at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.

Buckingham joined The Killers for the show’s finale and played three songs with the band — renditions of their 2020 tune “Caution,” Lindsey’s classic 1976 Fleetwood Mac hit “Go Your Own Way” and The Killers’ 2003 smash “Mr. Brightside.”

Fan-shot video of the “Mr. Brightside” performance was posted to YouTube by user James Crutchfield.

Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who has been serving as The Killers’ opening act on their current tour, also took part in the “Mr. Brightside” performance. In addition, Marr has been joining The Killers at every show on the trek to play a Smiths tune; during Saturday’s gig they performed “This Charming Man.”

Buckingham posted a couple of photos of him playing with The Killers on his Facebook page, along with a note that reads, “Thank you for having me out there.”

Incidentally, Buckingham was featured on the studio version of “Caution,” which appeared on The Killers’ 2020 album, Imploding Mirage.

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Madonna has proven once again why she’s the Queen of Pop.

Her new dance remix compilation, Finally Enough Love, has debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 album chart. That makes her the first female artist to hit the top 10 on that chart in the ’80s, ’90s, 2000s, ’10s and now, the ’20s. 

The nine other acts who’ve managed to do this are either male solo stars or groups with an all-male lineup, including Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Metallica.

Overall, Madonna’s scored 23 top 10 albums, nine of which have reached number one: Like a Virgin, True Blue, Like a Prayer, Music, American Life, Confessions on a Dance Floor, Hard Candy, MDNA and Madame X.

Surprisingly, the decade that Madonna scored the most top 10 albums was the ’90s: She had seven overall, including what many consider to be her best: 1998’s Ray of Light. That album never managed to hit number one, though; it was kept out of the top spot by the Titanic soundtrack.

Also of note: Billboard says Finally Enough Love is the first remix album to hit the top 10 since Beyonce‘s 2014 EP More Only, which also peaked at number eight.

Overall, the only artists who’ve had more top 10 albums than Madonna are The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. She and Bob Dylan both had 23. Notably, though, all those artists had several decades’ head start on Madonna.

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In June, Yes launched its “Album Series Tour 2022” with a run of concerts in the U.K. and Ireland, and now, the legendary prog-rock band has announced plans to bring the trek to the U.S. this fall.

The tour celebrates the 50th anniversary of Yes’ classic 1972 studio effort, Close to the Edge, and will feature a full performance of the album, which peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200.

The 28-date trek, which marks Yes first stateside outing since 2019, kicks off with an October 7-8 stand in Glenside, Pennsylvania and runs through a November 19 show in Westbury, New York. Tickets for the concerts will go on sale to the general public starting this Friday, September 2; check local listings and YesWorld.com for information.

The Close to the Edge shows will feature a full production with a high-def video wall that will offer a presentation including art created by longtime Yes cover artist Roger Dean.

Like the tour of the U.K. and Ireland, the U.S. trek is dedicated to longtime Yes drummer Alan White, who passed away in May. White joined Yes in June 1972, just a few days before the band launched its original tour in support of Close to the Edge, and remained with the group for the rest of his life.

Stepping in for Alan will be his good friend Jay Schellen, who has served as Yes’ second touring drummer for many years.

As previously reported, a special tribute concert for White has been scheduled for October 2 at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre. The show will feature members of Yes and Alan’s solo group White, as well as special guests. Tickets for the show are on sale now at STGPresents.org.

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The 2022 MTV Video Music Awards took place Sunday night. Here are the rock artists who took home a Moon Person:

As was previously announced before the show, Red Hot Chili Peppers were recognized with the Global Icon Award. After an introduction from comedy duo Cheech & Chong, the band launched into renditions “Black Summer,” off their new album Unlimited Love, and the By the Way classic “Can’t Stop.”

The Peppers then gave a speech accepting the Global Icon Award, with drummer Chad Smith dedicating the honor to late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. Smith’s drum kit also paid tribute to Hawkins with a drawing of a hawk outlining the name Taylor.

Additionally, frontman Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea gave brief speeches, thanking their fans, bandmates, family and, in the case of Flea, “cockroaches” and “deer antlers.”

Meanwhile, RHCP’s “Black Summer” won the Best Rock prize.C

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One half of the original lineup of Rock & Roll Hall of Famers The Rascals — singer/keyboardist Felix Cavaliere and guitarist Gene Cornish — are teaming up for a fall U.S. tour celebrating the legendary “blue-eyed soul” group’s musical legacy.

The Rascals Featuring Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish‘s Time Peace Tour 2022 currently includes five confirmed dates, all in the Northeastern U.S., running from a November 11 concert in Staten Island, New York, through a November 18 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. More dates are expected to be announced soon.

“We’re so grateful for the fans, this is for them,” says Cavaliere, who recently published an autobiography titled Memoir of a Rascal…From Pelham, NY to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Adds Cornish, who received a pacemaker in 2018 after collapsing on stage during a show, “This gives us another chance to play together and do it for the fans.”

Fans who come out to the shows can expect to hear such Rascals classics as “Good Lovin’,” “Groovin’,” “A Beautiful Morning,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long” and “People Got to Be Free.”

Prior to the Time Peace Tour, Cavaliere and his group Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals have a pair of co-headlining concerts lined up with Micky Dolenz of The Monkees on October 22 in Reno, Nevada, and October 23 in Phoenix.

Felix’s band also has a series of concerts in Hawaii running from January 26 through January 29.

Visit FelixCavaliereMusic.com for his full itinerary.

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A performance stage at a new park in Pasadena, California, the city where Alex Van Halen and the late Eddie Van Halen grew up, will be named after the brothers’ famous band at a dedication ceremony Saturday, September 10.

According to Pasadena Now, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Playhouse Village Park and Van Halen Stage will be held at 9 a.m. PT, followed by a two-hour community celebration.

The Pasadena City Council voted to name the stage after Van Halen following a citywide survey in 2021.

The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena from the Netherlands in 1962, and the siblings formed their famous namesake band in the city in 1972. Eddie died in October 2020 from complications of cancer. He was 65.

Eddie Van Halen Park was the most popular name considered for the park, but the City Council eventually decided that Playhouse District Village Park would be more appropriate. The performance stage was then set to be named Eddie Van Halen Stage, but the Van Halen family requested that the area be named for the whole band rather than just for the late guitarist. The plans then were amended to honor the family’s wishes.

The park, which sits on 1.04 acres of land, also features a children’s play area and a dog run. 

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