Classic Hits – Page 8

Grammys 2026: Bruce Springsteen & Joni Mitchell box sets win Grammy awards

February 1, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Box sets from Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen took home trophies at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

Mitchell was the winner for best historical album for her box set Joni Mitchell Archives – Volume 4: The Asylum Years (1976-1980), her 11th career Grammy win. As for Springsteen, although he did not win an award, the art directors behind his box set Tracks II: The Lost Albums won best recording package.

And while Springsteen was not at the ceremony, he did help the Grammys pay tribute to The Beach Boys‘ Brian Wilson, who passed away in June at age 82.

“Brian Wilson was the kind of shining musical genius who made generations of songwriters so much better. I know this because i’m one of them,” Springsteen said in a voice-over that accompanied a video tribute to Wilson. He added, “Brian, the last of the Wilson brothers, may be gone but he leaves behind so many great songs and good vibrations that will live forever.”

John Mayer voiced a similar tribute to the late Grateful Dead founding member Bob Weir, who died in January at 77.

“To play music with Bob Weir was to learn from a master. He understood songwriting to its core, having written and performed some of the most enduring music in American history,” Mayer said as photos and video of Weir played on screen. “Bob has left us, but the songs he sang will remain a roadmap for a better, more meaningful life.”

The 2026 Grammy Awards took place Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and aired on CBS. The 2027 Grammy Awards will air on ABC.

Albums by The Velvet Underground and The Stooges get high fidelity reissue

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Velvet Underground’s Loaded and The Stooges’ Fun House are the latest albums to get a high fidelity audio release.

Both are part of Rhino High Fidelity’s series of limited-edition, high-end vinyl reissues, cut from the original master tapes. Only 5,000 individually numbered copies have been pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and are available now via Rhino.com.

Loaded, released in 1970, was The Velvet Underground’s fourth studio album, and their last with lead singer and primary songwriter Lou Reed. It featured such iconic tunes as “Sweet Jane” and “Rock & Roll.”

Fun House, also released in 1970, was The Stooges’ sophomore record. Although it wasn’t a commercial hit when released, it went on to develop a cult following and has been included on lists of the greatest albums of all time.

“Something about this record that I like is the way it begins with a couple of very short, fully structured numbers, and then slips farther and farther out of control…yet it never loses a structure of its own,” The Stooges’ Iggy Pop writes in new liner notes. “This is not a meat-and-potatoes record. It’s not ‘ten really good songs that the consumer can depend on.’”

Bruce Springsteen performs ‘Streets of Minneapolis’ at Tom Morello’s Minneapolis concert protesting ICE

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Just two days after releasing “Streets of Minneapolis,” Bruce Springsteen performed the protest song live for the first time.

The Boss was a special guest at Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello’s A Concert of Solidarity & Resistance to Defend Minnesota, which took Friday afternoon at the downtown Minneapolis venue First Ave.

Fan-shot footage posted to social media shows The Boss taking the stage to perform “Streets of Minneapolis” before being joined by Morello for an electric “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” during which they traded verses. That version of the song appeared on Springsteen’s 2014 High Hopes.

Springsteen, Morello and the rest of the performers then performed the John Lennon song “Power to the People.”

All proceeds from the concert will benefit the families of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both shot and killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis in January.

Lou Gramm to host opening weekend of Foreigner’s orchestral Las Vegas residency

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Foreigner is set to open a new Las Vegas residency in March, and they’ve just announced that the band’s original frontman, Lou Gramm, is joining them for two of the shows.

Foreigner: The Hits Orchestral – Celebrating 50 Years Live in Vegas at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian Resort will consist of five shows running March 6 to 14. Gramm is set to host opening weekend, March 6 and 7.

Gramm, whose new solo album Released drops March 27, will also host a VIP book signing ahead of the shows, open to only 20 guests. It includes a meet and greet and photo op with Gramm, who’ll sign his book Juke Box Hero.

Foreigner: The Hits Orchestral – Celebrating 50 Years Live in Vegas will have the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band performing their biggest hits alongside a 20-piece orchestra, with arrangements written by Juilliard cello virtuoso Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer, who will also conduct.

“It’s a personal thrill for me to be hosting Foreigner’s opening weekend at the wonderful Venetian Resort,” says Gramm. “It’s a true delight to witness Foreigner performing all the hits with Dave Eggar’s amazing orchestra and I am so looking forward to welcoming many concert goers at my book signing event.”

Before Foreigner hits Vegas they’ll be playing a series of unplugged shows in Colorado, starting Feb. 25 in Beaver Creek. A complete list of dates can be found at foreigeronline.com.

Lenny Kravitz unveils intro to NBC’s ‘Sunday Night Basketball’

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Lenny Kravitz has unveiled his intro to NBC’s Sunday Night Basketball programming.

The “Let Love Rule” singer debuted the clip on Instagram Friday. In it, he performs a reworked version of the Elvis Presley track “Little Less Conversation,” with the lyrics adjusted to make reference to basketball and the Sunday night programming. The performance is cut with footage of various NBA highlights.

“I have been a fan of basketball and the NBA since I was a kid,” Kravitz said when his participation in the intro was announced in October. “I am happy to be invited to take part with NBC Sports and the NBA, and I celebrate their support of sports, music, and culture. I am looking forward to this special moment.”

Sunday Night Basketball debuts Feb. 1 on NBC and Peacock.

Kravitz is set to hit Mexico for three shows starting March 6 in Guadalajara. He’ll then head to Europe for a tour that launches June 12 in Florence, Italy. So far he has no U.S. dates on his 2026 schedule. A complete list of shows can be found at LennyKravitz.com.

Michael McDonald & Kenny Loggins to guest on new Charlie Puth album

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

The Dobbie Brothers’ Michael McDonald and singer Kenny Loggins are set to appear on pop star Charlie Puth’s upcoming album, Whatever’s Clever.

Charlie reveals in an Instagram video that he loves Yacht Rock, the term for smooth-sounding, jazz-inflected, highly polished soft rock hits from the ’70s and early ’80s. As an example, he plays a snippet of the Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes,” sung McDonald, and co-written by McDonald and Loggins.

“And I thought to myself, how am I gonna make a new album and not have Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins on it?” Charlie says in the video. “The answer is, you can’t. So what did a music lover like myself do? I called up Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins and they came over to my house.”

Charlie details how they all recorded a song together: Kenny played guitar, Michael played keyboards and they both sang on it. “Hearing his voice makes me wanna cry,” Charlie says of Michael’s soulful pipes.

After playing additional elements he recorded for the song — an orchestra, drums and background vocals — Charlie notes, “You put it all together and you have Yacht Rock in 2026 with the guys who invented it.”

Charlie concludes the video by playing a snippet of the unnamed song.

Whatever’s Clever is due March 27.

Cream releases ‘White Room’ video from 2005 Royal Albert Hall reunion

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Cream, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band made up of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, has released an official video of the 2005 Royal Albert Hall performance of their iconic track “White Room.”

The performance is featured on the newly reissued live album Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6, 2005, which captured the band’s four-night reunion at the venue after 37 years apart.

The album is out now on triple blue and green splatter vinyl, and double blue and orange CD.

Released in October 2005, Royal Albert Hall London May 2-3-5-6, 2005, captures Cream’s first shows together since their farewell concerts at the same venue in November 1968. The band did reunite one other time, in 1993, for their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

On This Day, Jan. 30, 2025: Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart & more play FireAid benefit concerts in Los Angeles.

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

On This Day, Jan. 30, 2025…

Stevie Nicks, Rod Stewart, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash were among the artists who performed at the FireAid benefit concerts, held to raise money for those affected by the January 2025 California wildfires that destroyed thousands of homes in the Los Angeles area.

The event took place at two venues: the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.

Other artists who performed included John Fogerty, Joni Mitchell, The Black Crowes, Sting, a reunited Nirvana joined by Joan Jett, Kim Gordon and Violet Grohl, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Earth, Wind & Fire and Green Day.

The concert was broadcast live on several streaming platforms.

Zak Starkey looks back on his life and career with new one-man show

January 30, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Drummer Zak Starkey is set to debut a new one-man show, Zak Starkey … Who?: An Evening of Drums and Conversation, in New York, and he tells ABC Audio there’s a simple reason why he decided to do it.

“Because I don’t have a job,” he jokes. “So I had to invent one.”

Starkey, who was The Who’s drummer from 1996 until he was let go in 2025, says someone suggested he do a drum clinic, but he’s not fond of a “clinical approach.”

Starkey, son of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr, instead plans to treat fans to a special evening of him sharing stories, rare photographs and personal movies, with the night also including a Q&A and, of course, some music.

“Basically, I’ll be playing along with, it’s a film of my life at first,” he says. He’ll then take questions from the audience, noting that “hopefully that can move it on to the next thing that I play, sort of what the audience guide(s) me towards.”

When it comes to the home movies, Starkey says he had “no idea” what he’d find, but he’s had a hard time choosing what to use because “there’s so much great stuff.”

Starkey adds that he’s “flexible” about what he plans to perform during the show, but expects to cover his time with Oasis, Johnny Marr and more. He has no doubt he’ll end the evening with The Who, noting, “You can’t follow The Who.”

As for what he hopes fans will take away from the evening, Starkey jokes, “a T-shirt and some drumsticks,” before getting a bit more serious.

“That [the] music’s f***** great,” he says. “It’s just been a f****** great ride.”

Zak Starkey … Who?: An Evening of Drums and Conversation will take place Feb. 20 at New York’s Gramercy Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.

Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton takes last ride on Disney World’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster ahead of band’s removal

January 29, 2026 by WDNY Radio

Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton went to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida, to say his goodbye to the band’s namesake roller coaster.

The rocker visited the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith with his new band Close Enemies, and posted photos and video from the experience on Instagram. Video shows Hamilton greeting fans while in line for the ride, while one of the photos is the souvenir photo taken of him and his band during the ride.

“What a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with my new band, @closeenemiesofficial, riding Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster one last time before it takes its final lap,” Hamilton wrote alongside his post. “It’s been an absolute honor to share this ride with our fans for so many years. Huge thanks to the amazing cast members for the warmth, hospitality, and respect for what this moment means.”

It was announced in November 2024 that Aerosmith was being replaced by The Muppets on the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. The decision to change the ride came after Disney decided to replace Muppet Vision 3D with Monsters Inc. land.

In December 2025 Aerosmith’s video intro for the ride, which featured Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, was removed in order for construction to start on the Muppets revamp. Soon after it was announced that the ride’s last day of operation would be March 1.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then named Disney-MGM Studios, in July 1999. It started with the band in the studio before taking off to a concert and bringing the riders along with them. It featured iconic tunes from the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, including “Walk This Way,” “Love in an Elevator” and “Sweet Emotion.”

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