Classic Hits

Following Queen Elizabeth II‘s death Thursday at age 96, Sir Paul McCartney issued a brief statement paying tribute to the monarch. But now the rock legend has penned a lengthy homage looking back at all the times he met the queen.

In the message, which was posted on his official website, McCartney starts by noting, “I feel privileged to have been alive during the whole of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. When I was 10 years old I entered an essay competition in Liverpool and won my division for my essay about the British Monarchy so I have been a fan for a long time.”

He also recalls watching the queen’s 1953 coronation on a black-and-white TV.

Sir Paul says he met Queen Elizabeth “eight or nine times,” adding that “each time she impressed me with her great sense of humour combined with great dignity.”

The first time McCartney met the queen was in October 1965, when The Beatles received the Member of the Order of the British Empire honor.

One of the most memorable occasions, according to Paul, was in 1997 on what he describes as “a very proud day for me” — receiving his knighthood.

“I felt very honoured to be offered a Knighthood and of course it would have been rude to turn it down!” he says.

Other meetings took place in 2002 and 2012, respectively, when Paul performed at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

McCartney recalls that the last time he saw Queen Elizabeth in person was in 2018, when she presented him with the Companion of Honour medal.

As Sir Paul recalls, “I shook her hand, leaned in and said, ‘We have got to stop meeting like this,’ to which she giggled slightly and got on with the ceremony.”

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After playing a September 4 warm-up show in Bangor, Maine, Aerosmith officially kicked off its 50th anniversary celebrations on Thursday with their long-delayed concert at Boston’s Fenway Park.

Over 38,700 people attended the event, setting a record for the most tickets ever sold for a concert at the historic ballpark. The show had originally been scheduled for September 2020, but was postponed and then pushed back again to this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a recap by The Patriot Ledger, Aerosmith played a 20-song set that included plenty of classics and some deep cuts. Near the end of the show, singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry appeared atop the stadium’s “Green Monster” section and performed “Dream On.” They then rejoined the band to finish the concert with renditions of “Sweet Emotion” and “Walk This Way.”

A five-minute fireworks display brought the festivities to a close.

The night before the concert, Tyler paid a visit to 1325 Commonwealth Ave. in Boston’s Allston neighborhood, which served as the band’s home base during their early years. Special Aerosmith-themed projections were flashed on that building and at a few other Beantown locations before and after the concert.

You can check out photos of Tyler visiting the “Aerosmith Apartment,” and of the projections, on the band’s social media pages.

The band will now launch its latest “Deuces Are Wild” Las Vegas residency Wednesday, September 14, at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Tickets for the shows can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. For more info, visit ParkMGM.MGMResorts.com.

Here’s the band’s full Fenway Park set list, according to Setlist.fm:

“Back in the Saddle”
“Same Old Song and Dance”
“Rag Doll”
“Mama Kin”
“Remember (Walking in the Sand)” (Shangri‐Las cover)
“Stop Messin’ Around” (Fleetwood Mac cover)
“Cryin'”
“Hangman Jury”
“Seasons of Wither”
“Toys in the Attic”
“Livin’ on the Edge”
“The Other Side”
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”
“Love in an Elevator”
“Draw the Line”
“Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”

Encore:
“Dream On”
“Sweet Emotion”
“Walk This Way”

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A new series of videos set to four classic Beach Boys songs from the mid-1960s launched Friday with the premiere of 1965’s “Barbara Ann.”

Watched together, the four videos tell the story of a high school romance between surfing-obsessed Helena and her classmate Lucas, an aspiring photographer who just moved into town. All of the clips include clever references and nods to The Beach Boys.

The “Barbara Ann” clip specifically follows Helena as she daydreams about surfing while sitting in class and then making her way home from school. We’re also briefly introduced to Lucas, whom Helena passes on her bicycle.

The other three videos, which will be set to “Don’t Worry Baby,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “God Only Knows,” will debut on the band’s official YouTube channel at noon ET, respectively, on Saturday, September 10; Friday, September 16; and Saturday, September 17.

The “Don’t Worry Baby” visual will share Lucas’ back story, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” will focus on his and Helena’s romance, and “God Only Knows” will look at where their relationship is at as the school year ends.

The videos were directed by Andrew Litten, who’s worked with Earth, Wind & Fire, Anderson .Paak and Pusha T, and were filmed in South Africa with local actors.

“A recurring theme throughout The Beach Boys’ music is the feeling of being young and in love,” explains Litten. “Their most iconic songs were written when they were between the ages of 15 to 21, so there’s this exciting view on life that’s immortalized in their lyrics. I wanted to do the same with the music videos by capturing the spontaneity and playfulness of being a teenager, fantasizing about the future, pursuing new passions, and falling in love.”

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Rod Stewart, who received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2016, is not only mourning the loss of the monarch but also of a close family member.

On Instagram, Sir Rod wrote, “It has been a devastating 48 hours. We lost my brother Don on Tuesday at 94 and today we have all lost Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at 96.”

He added, “The Queen has been an unwavering presence throughout my life and a great unifier. A shining star that will never fade in our hearts and souls. What a privilege it was to perform for her. My deepest sympathies to the Royal Family. God save the King.”

Rod met and performed for the queen multiple times: his most recent performance was at her Platinum Jubilee this past summer. Ahead of that concert, he told the BBC, “She’s been so much part of my life, almost like a sister, you know?”

At the time he also said he “loves” the newly minted monarch, Charles, and joked that his wife and the then-prince had “a thing going on.”

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Wolfgang Van Halen is marking the anniversary of one of his father’s most iconic musical contributions with his own version.

The son of the late Eddie Van Halen tweeted a video of him shredding Van Halen‘s famed instrumental “Eruption” on the same guitar his dad used to record the original.

While the video was filmed in 2015, Wolf’s sharing it now in honor of it being the 45th anniversary of “Eruption’s” first recording in 1977. The song was later released on Van Halen’s 1978 self-titled debut album.

Wolf, who played bass in Van Halen starting in 2006, hasn’t performed much of his dad’s music since Eddie passed away in October 2020, instead focusing more on his Mammoth WVH solo project. However, he did jam the Van Halen songs “On Fire” and “Hot for Teacher” during last weekend’s Taylor Hawkins tribute concert.

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The latest installment of The Kinks‘ series of expanded 50th anniversary reissues, which focuses on two of the legendary U.K. band’s albums — 1971’s Muswell Hillbillies and 1972’s Everybody’s in Show-Biz – Everybody’s a Star — was released today.

The collection is available in multiple formats and configurations, including a box set featuring six vinyl LPs, four CDs, a Blu-ray, a 52-page hardback book, a badge, glossy photos and more.

Muswell Hillbillies was a loose concept album that found Kinks frontman Ray Davies reflecting on growing up in the London area of Muswell Hill, while also celebrating the American music and culture that influenced him.

Kinks guitarist Dave Davies, Ray’s younger brother, tells ABC Audio, “I can’t listen to … Muswell Hillbillies without thinking of great heroes of mine, like Hank Williams and Lead Belly and all these incredible American artists that captured mine and Ray’s imagination.”

One of the best known tracks on Muswell Hillbillies is “20th Century Man,” which Dave considers “a colossal song.”

Everybody’s in Show-Biz – Everybody’s a Star is a double album that features a disc of studio tracks and a live disc recorded at New York’s Carnegie Hall in March 1972. The studio portion includes the classic song “Celluloid Heroes.”

“Celluloid Heroes,” of course, is a reflective homage to some famous actors who were immortalized with stars on Hollywood Boulevard.

“Honestly, Ray, to his great credit, wrote a masterpiece, I think,” Dave says. “I like the way he sings it, because it’s … a bit yearning, like he’s lost, but he isn’t.”

The box set features remastered versions of the two albums, as well as 11 new remixes by Ray Davies. The Blu-ray contains an unseen 15-minute 1971 home movie shot and narrated by Ray.

For more details, visit TheKinks.info.

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A limited-edition vinyl picture version of The Police‘s popular 1981 album Ghost in the Machine, featuring the record’s originally planned track list and sequencing, will be released November 4.

The LP, which can be preordered now, boasts three extra tracks — “I Burn for You,” “Once Upon a Daydream” and “Shambelle.”

The Ghost in the Machine picture disc features a single mix of “I Burn for You,” which first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1982 film Brimstone and Treacle.

The picture disc also features audio of drummer Stewart Copeland counting in each track, something not heard on the original album.

Side A of the disc features the Police logo that appeared on the front of the Ghost in the Machine album cover, while side B features an image from the inner sleeve.

Released in October 1981, Ghost in the Machine topped the U.K. album chart and reached #2 on the Billboard 200. The album featured two top-20 singles in the U.S., “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” and “Spirits in the Material,” which peaked at #3 and #11, respectively. In the U.K., “Every Little Thing” topped the singles chart and “Spirits” reached #12, while “Invisible Sun” ascended to #2.

Other memorable tunes on the album include “Demolition Man,” “Too Much Information,” “One World (Not Three)” and “Secret Journey.”

Here’s the Ghost in the Machine picture disc’s full track list:

Side A
“Invisible Sun”
“Demolition Man”
“Secret Journey”
“Darkness”
“Spirits in the Material World”
“Too Much Information”
“Omegaman”

Side B
“One World (Not Three)”
“Rehumanize Yourself”
“I Burn for You”
“Hungry for You (j’aurais toujours faim de toi)”
“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
“Once Upon a Daydream”
“Shambelle”

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Members of the music rock community are sharing their thoughts on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in British history, who died Thursday at age 96. Here are reactions by some veteran artists:

The Rolling Stones: “The Rolling Stones extend their deepest sympathy to the Royal family on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who was a constant presence in their lives as in countless others.”

Mick Jagger: “For my whole life Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has always been there. In my childhood I can recall watching her wedding highlights on TV. I remember her as a beautiful young lady, to the much beloved grandmother of the nation. My deepest sympathies are with the Royal family.”

Duran Duran: “Her Majesty the Queen has presided over the UK for longer than any other British monarch. She dedicated her life to the people and set an extraordinary example to the world throughout her reign. She’s seen changes that are beyond what any of us can imagine. She has faced challenges that she has risen to time and again. Her life has been remarkable in so many ways. We will all miss her and are grateful for the incredible service she gave to the people of Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth.”

Janet Jackson: “May you Rest In Peace Queen.”

Def Leppard‘s Joe Elliott: “Dignity. If there’s ever one word to describe this wonderful lady & monarch it’s dignity. We will never see the likes of this again. She has transcended eras with good grace and service to her country that is unparalleled anywhere or by anyone. Thank you your Majesty for a lifetime of great memories and leadership.”

Ozzy Osbourne: “I mourn with my country the passing of our greatest Queen. With a heavy heart I say it is devastating the thought of England without Queen Elizabeth II.”

Sharon Osbourne: “Rest In Peace Queen Elizabeth ll. The embodiment of strength, dignity and unwavering commitment to her vow. May you be at peace beside His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburg. Long Live The King.”

Ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach: “RIP #QueenElizabeth a leader who brought the whole world together.”

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In October 2021, Queen drummer Roger Taylor toured the U.K. in support of his new latest album, Outsider. A collection of performances from the trek is set to be released on September 30.

The Outsider Tour Live will be available as a two-CD set, as a two-LP package and via digital formats.

The 22-track album includes versions of Queen’s “These Are the Days of Our Lives,” “Rock It (Prime Jive),” “Tenement Funster,” “Under Pressure,” “I’m In Love with My Car” and “Radio Ga Ga,” as well as covers of Led Zeppelin‘s “Rock ‘n’ Roll” and David Bowie‘s “Heroes.”

It also features performances of songs from 2021’s Outsider and Taylor’s earlier solo records. The performances were taken from eight of the 14 concerts Roger played on the trek, including the tour finale in London.

Queen guitarist Brian May made a surprise guest appearance at the show, joining Taylor and his solo band for renditions of Little Richard‘s “Tutti Frutti” and Queen’s “A Kind of Magic,” both of which are on the record.

The Outsider Tour Live can be preordered now. Physical versions, as well as special exclusive bundles, can be purchased at Queen’s online store.

A performance of Taylor’s 1999 solo tune “Surrender,” which includes vocals by his solo band member Tina Keys, has been released as the lead single from the live album via digital services.

Taylor has dedicated the album to the memory of late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, referring to him as “My wonderful brother who brought sunshine into all our lives.”

Here’s full track list of the album’s two-CD version:

CD 1
“Strange Frontier” — Live from London
“Tenement Funster” — Live from London
“We’re All Just Trying to Get By” — Live from Plymouth
“A Nation of Haircuts” — Live from Guilford
“These Are the Days of Our Lives” — Live from Norwich
“Up” — Live from Bournemouth
“Gangsters Are Running This World” — Live from Plymouth
“Absolutely Anything” — Live from Norwich
“Surrender” — Live from Bournemouth
“Man On Fire” — Live from London
“Rock It (Prime Jive)” — Live from London
“Under Pressure” — Live from London
“Say It’s Not True” — Live from Bexhill

CD 2
“I’m In Love with My Car” — Live from Guilford
“Outsider” — Live from Plymouth
“More Kicks” — Live from Guilford
“Foreign Sand” — Live from Plymouth
“Tutti Frutti” — Live from London
“A Kind of Magic” — Live from London
“Rock ‘n’ Roll” — Live from Newcastle
“Heroes” — Live from Coventry
“Radio Ga Ga” — Live from Guilford

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Elton John had a closer relationship with Queen Elizabeth II than most global music stars: not only did she knight him and make a member of the Order of Companions of Honour — two extremely prestigious accolades — he was a bona fide friend of the royal family. It’s no wonder he’s penned an emotional tribute to the late monarch.

On Instagram, Elton writes, “Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was an inspiring presence to be around, and led the country through some of our greatest, and darkest, moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth.”

“Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly,” Sir Elton concluded.

Elton recorded a special performance for the queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebration in June. He also performed at her Golden Jubilee, marking her 50th year on the throne, and her Diamond Jubilee, when she hit 60 years on the throne.

Elton is said to be close with Princes William and Harry, the sons of his dear friend Princess Diana. Of course, he famously performed at her funeral in 1997; his and Bernie Taupin‘s tribute to her, “Candle In the Wind ’97,” subsequently became the best-selling single of all time.

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