Classic Hits

Newly unsealed documents reveal that the FBI tracked Aretha Franklin because she was involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s.

A 270-page document shows the FBI paid special attention to the Queen of Soul’s many performances for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference civil rights organization.

The shows for the SCLC took place in Atlanta and Memphis between 1967 and 1968 and were labeled as “communist infiltration” events.

The FBI also tracked a scheduled performance at a Black Panther Party event that Aretha eventually canceled.

“Bobby Seale, Chairman of the Black Panther Party, has directed the Los Angeles Black Panther Party to initiate plans for a major rally culminating in free food distribution to the poor black people in Los Angeles,” the document reads. “Source also advised that Gwen Goodloe wanted to contact Negro singing stars Aretha Franklin and Roberta Flack to possibly assist in the event.”

The FBI also linked the 18-time Grammy winner to the Black Liberation Army after reportedly finding Franklin’s address in BLA’s organization documents.

The bureau called the BLA a “quasi-military group composed of small guerrilla units employing the tactics of urban guerrilla warfare against the established order with a view toward achieving revolutionary change in America.” Due to insufficient evidence, the FBI concluded that Franklin’s association with the BLA could not be determined.

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Ricky Martin is facing new sexual assault accusations after a complaint was filed in Puerto Rico on Friday.  

People reports that the accuser’s identity and details pertaining to these new allegations have not been released to the public.  

These claims comes days after Ricky launched a multi-million dollar lawsuit against his nephew, 21-year-old Dennis Yadiel Sanchez, who he claims tried to “assassinate” his reputation by accusing him of sexual abuse and stalking. Sanchez is the son of Ricky’s half-sister, Vanessa. 

Ricky was exonerated in July when a Puerto Rican court dismissed Sanchez’s request for a restraining order. Later, Sanchez withdrew his domestic abuse allegations and admitted under oath he was never assaulted by the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer.

The singer’s attorney, José Andréu-Fuentes, spoke to People about the new allegations and hinted Sanchez is behind this latest court battle, as well.

“These claims are wildly offensive and completely untethered from reality,” he said. “When this man previously made similar allegations, his legal case had to be withdrawn — not least because he himself admitted under oath that Ricky Martin had never assaulted him in any way.”

“Now, after being sued for trying to extort Mr. Martin, he is attempting to spread his lies again. It is beyond time that the media stops giving this deeply troubled individual the oxygen of publicity and allows him to get the help he so clearly needs,” Fuentes continued.

In Ricky’s suit against Sanchez, he called his nephew “maladjusted” and claimed Sanchez continues to threaten to “assassinate his reputation” unless “he is economically compensated.”

Ricky’s lawyers have said the singer and his family no longer feel safe in Puerto Rico because of Sanchez’s alleged threats.

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Late blues legend John Lee Hooker‘s acclaimed 1989 studio album, The Healer, which featured guest appearances by Santana, George Thorogood, Bonnie Raitt and others, will be reissued October 28 on CD and vinyl after years of being out of print.

The Healer became Hooker’s highest-charting album ever on the Billboard 200, peaking at #62. The record kicks off with the title track, which was co-written by Carlos Santana, and features musical contributions from the guitar legend and his band.

Thorogood appears on a version of “Sally Mae,” a song that was originally released as the B-side of Hooker’s 1948 debut single, the R&B chart-topping “Boogie Chillen’.”

Raitt is featured on an updated rendition of “I’m in the Mood,” a song that reached #30 on the Billboard pop singles chart in 1951. The Hooker-Raitt duet wound up winning a Grammy Award in the Best Traditional Blues Performance category.

Other artists featured on The Healer include Robert Cray, Canned Heat, Los Lobos and acclaimed blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite.

The Healer is available for preorder now, while special merchandise can be purchased exclusively at JohnLeeHooker.com.

Hooker was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. He died in 2001; while his actual age was disputed, he was believed to be 88.

Here’s the full track list of The Healer:

“The Healer” — with Carlos Santana & The Santana Band
“I’m in the Mood” — with Bonnie Raitt
“Baby Lee” — with Robert Cray
“Cuttin’ Out” — with Canned Heat
“Think Twice Before You Go” — with Los Lobos
“Sally Mae” — with George Thorogood
“That’s Alright” — with Charlie Musselwhite
“Rockin’ Chair”
“My Dream”
“No Substitute”

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The new version of Dolly Parton‘s number-one hit “9 to 5,” reimagined by Kelly Clarkson and Dolly herself, is finally here.

While the original 1980 version of the song was peppy and upbeat, the new version has more of a melancholy feel, with slight changes in the melody reflecting the frustration of trying to get ahead in one’s career and being held back by your boss.

“It’s a rich man’s game, no matter what they call it/ And you spend your life putting money in his wallet,” sings Kelly.

The new duet version of the song appears in the new documentary, Still Working 9 to 5, which is set to premiere September 16. It’s about the 1980 feminist comedy 9 to 5, in which Dolly starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. The doc examines the landmark film and the impact it had on the women’s movement at that time, as well as how its message still resonates as women continue to fight for equality in the workplace.

“I am so honored that Dolly asked me to reimagine this iconic song, ‘9 to 5,’ with her!” Kelly says in a statement. “She is so talented, an inspiration to all women, and one of the sweetest people you will ever meet! I hope y’all like what we did, but even if you don’t, remember I got to sing a duet with the magical Dolly Parton and now have bragging rights til the end of time!”

Dolly adds, “Nobody sings like Kelly Clarkson. She makes any song come alive. I love her voice on ‘9 to 5’ and I am so proud I got to sing with her on it.”

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Sammy Hagar & The Circle have released a third advance track from their forthcoming studio album Crazy Times, an expanded and updated version of “Funky Feng Shui,” which first appeared on their 2021 record, Lockdown 2020.

To accompany the song, which is available now via digital formats, Hagar and his band have debuted its music video on the Red Rocker’s official YouTube channel.

The cartoonish clip features Sammy and his bandmates — bassist Michael Anthony, drummer Jason Bonham and guitarist Vic Johnson — playing the song on a Hollywood street while a giant woman in a tight-fitting red dress looms over them.

Regarding the making of the video, Hagar says, “[It] was a blast because the Director kept screaming ‘Just remember there’s gonna be a 50 foot woman stepping over you guys while you’re performing’ – ha ha! I love this song and this video is more fun than a frog in a glass of milk.”

“Funky Feng Shui” began as a jam that Hagar and The Circle would play backstage to warm up before shows. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Sammy and the band remotely recorded an abbreviated version of the tune that wound up on their Lockdown 2020 collection. Hagar completed the song while working on Crazy Times, and he and The Circle then recorded the extended version for the new album.

As previously reported, Crazy Times, which can be preordered now, will be released on CD and via digital formats on September 30, while standard black-vinyl and limited-edition red-vinyl LP versions will follow on October 28.

Prior to “Funky Feng Shui,” Hagar and the band released two other advance tunes from the album — the title track and a cover of Elvis Costello‘s “Pump It Up” — along with companion videos.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

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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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