Classic Hits

U2′s Bono has certainly lived an interesting life, and now we’ll get to read his side of the story in his memoir, Surrender, coming November 1.

The book may be titled after U2’s song “Surrender,” from their 1983 album War, or perhaps “Moment of Surrender,” from their 2009 album No Line on the Horizon. It’s subtitled “40 Songs, One Story,” as each of the book’s 40 chapters is named after a U2 song. 

The book follows Bono, born Paul Hewson, from his childhood in Dublin, to the formation of U2 and its journey to superstardom, to his 20-year career as an activist for causes such as the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty.

Bono also created 40 original drawings for Surrender, some of which are featured in an animated video, in which he reads an extract from the chapter titled “Out of Control.” The extract is from the part of the book where Bono describes writing U2’s first single on May 10, 1978 — his 18th birthday — 44 years ago today.

In a statement about the project, Bono says, “When I started to write this book, I was hoping to draw in detail what I’d previously only sketched in songs. The people, places, and possibilities in my life.”

“‘Surrender’ is a word freighted with meaning for me. Growing up in Ireland in the seventies with my fists up (musically speaking), it was not a natural concept,” he continues. “A word I only circled until I gathered my thoughts for the book. I am still grappling with this most humbling of commands. In the band, in my marriage, in my faith, in my life as an activist. Surrender is the story of one pilgrim’s lack of progress…With a fair amount of fun along the way.”

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Generation Radio, a new supergroup featuring former Chicago singer/bassist Jason Scheff, Journey drummer/singer Deen Castronovo and ex-Rascal Flatts member Jay DeMarcus, has signed a deal with the Frontiers Music label and will be releasing its debut album this summer.

The band, which also features guitarists Chris Rodriguez and Tom Yankton, first began playing shows under the moniker The Rise Above in 2020.

“I know that the band is very excited to have partnered with Frontiers on this first release from Generation Radio,” Scheff says in a statement. “I have a personal great feeling about it, having brought Frontiers to Chicago to release our 36th album [2014’s] Now: Chicago XXXVI, of which I produced and co-wrote the title track. We have a beautiful history together, so it only made sense to bring Frontiers into any of my ongoing projects.”

He adds, “We are booking live dates as we speak and are already talking about getting started on the next record.”

Demarcus, meanwhile, explains, “Any fans of Chicago, Journey, or Rascal Flatts will find something in this record that will resonate with them. To make some music with my friends and heroes is a truly incredible thing.”

In a video message posted on Generation Radio’s Instagram page on May 6, Scheff revealed that the album will be released sometime in August.

According to the band’s official website, Generation Radio has seven concerts on its 2022 schedule, spanning from a May 21 show in Cocoa Beach, Florida, through a September 17 performance in Raleigh, North Carolina.

It’s worth mentioning that longtime Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers drummer Steve Ferrone was part of Generation Radio’s lineup until recently, but it’s not clear if he’s still with the group.

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Peter Gabriel appears on the brand-new Arcade Fire song “Unconditional II (Race and Religion),” from the band’s latest studio album, WE, which was released Friday.

On the track, Gabriel delivers harmonies alongside lead vocals by Arcade Fire’s Régine Chassagne.

In recent interview with the Montreal Gazette, Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler said about the collaboration, “[Gabriel] came to the studio and we had a day to work on it. He does this thing where he double-tracks his voice, high and low. As soon as he put the high vocal down, I was like, ‘Oh s***, that’s Peter Gabriel.'”

You can check out “Unconditional II (Race and Religion)” now at Arcade Fire’s official YouTube channel.  The track and the album also are available via various digital and physical formats.

Gabriel previously recorded an Arcade Fire song, the Neon Bible track “My Body Is a Cage,” for his 2010 covers album Scratch My Back.

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Gospel/soul legend Mavis Staples and Goo Goo Dolls frontman Johnny Rzeznik will be honored at the 20th anniversary benefit for the Little Kids Rock charity, which will take place May 17 in New York City.

Little Kids Rock is a nonprofit with the goal of restoring and expanding music-education programs in public schools.

Staples, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Blues Hall of Fame inductee, will be presented with the Peace & Freedom Award at the gala. With her family group The Staple Singers, Mavis marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., performed at President John F. Kennedy‘s inauguration, and topped the charts. Later on, she sang at the White in front of President Barack Obama and was recognized as a Kennedy Center honoree.

Rzeznik will be honored with the Rocker of the Year prize at the event. Johnny has served as lead singer and guitarist for The Goo Goo Dolls for over 30 years, during which time the band has enjoyed plenty of chat success, including scoring three top-10 hist on the Billboard Hot 100 during the 1990s — “Name,” “Iris” and “Slide.”

The event also will include performances from ex-Allman Brothers Band singer/guitarist Warren Haynes, Run-D.M.C.‘s Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, pop singer Jon Secada and The Voice‘s season-three winner Cassadee Pope.

This year’s benefit will be held at New York City’s Terminal 5, beginning at 6 p.m. ET in May 17. Tickets and tables can be purchased now at LittleKidsRock.org.

To raise additional funds for Little Kids Rock, a silent auction will launch on Tuesday, May 10, at the organization’s website.

Proceeds raised by the benefit and the auction will go toward funding Little Kids Rock programs, teacher training and instrument donations.

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After wrapping up their “Sin City Nights” Las Vegas residency last month, German rockers The Scorpions have now unveiled dates for a full 2022 North American tour in support of their latest studio album, Rock Believer.

The trek, which kicks off August 21 in Toronto, will feature Whitesnake serving as special guests at most of the shows. Whitesnake’s performances also will be part of their own Farewell Tour. Swedish rock band Thundermother also will perform as an open act on The Scorpions’ trek.

So far, 24 shows have been confirmed, and the outing is mapped out through an October 21 concert in Las Vegas.

Tickets for the Rock Believer tour go on sale to the general public this Friday, May 13, at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Members of The Scorpions’ Rock Zone club will be able to purchase pre-sale tickets starting Tuesday, May 10, at 10 a.m. local time; visit The-Scorpions.com/RockZone for more information. Whitesnake is also offering fans a chance to buy pre-sale tickets. Visit Whitesnake.com for more details.

“After the amazing start we’ve had with our residency in Las Vegas, it’s about time to come back for a real tour to rock the U.S. like a hurricane again,” says Scorpions frontman Klaus Meine. “We can’t wait to see all you Rock Believers out there!”

Adds Whitesnake’s David Coverdale, “Once again it’s time to feel the sting of The Scorpions & the bite of the Whitesnake!!! Can’t wait!!!”

First up for The Scorpions in a European tour that gets underway tonight in Lisbon, Portugal. Check out the band’s full schedule at The-Scorpions.com.

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U2 singer Bono and guitarist The Edge paid a surprise visit on Sunday to a subway station in Kyiv, Ukraine, that’s currently serving as a bomb shelter, where the duo performed a short set that included some of their best-known songs, RTE.ie reports.

In a message posted Sunday on U2’s Twitter feed, Bono and The Edge wrote, “President [Zelenskyy] invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that’s what we’ve come to do.”

According to RTE.ie and various posts on social media, the songs that the two Rock & Roll Hall of Famers performed included “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Desire,” “With or Without You,” “Vertigo,” “Angel of Harlem,” “One,” and “Pride (In the Name of Love).”

Rolling Stone reports that Bono and The Edge also were joined by members of the Ukrainian band Antytila, who are now serving in the Ukrainian military, to perform a version of the Ben E. King classic “Stand by Me.”

Bono changed select lyrics in some of the songs to reference Ukraine, and Russia’s ongoing military invasion of the country.

The singer also addressed the crowd on hand for the performance, telling them, “The people in Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you are fighting for all of us who love freedom. We pray that you will enjoy some of that peace soon.”

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On Friday, Graham Nash released his new concert album, Live — Songs for Beginners/Wild Tales, which features the folk-rock legend performing his first two solo albums in their entirety, culled from four special shows that took place in September 2019.

“I’d always loved those two albums…and I always wanted to do them live, but I never did,” Nash tells ABC Audio about 1971’s Songs for Beginners and 1974’s Wild Tales. “And then my wife, Amy, one day said, ‘You know, I’d like to see that show. You better put it together.’ And so I did.”

To help organize the shows, which were held at four different venues in the northeastern U.S., Graham enlisted his two main touring musicians — guitarist Shane Fontayne and keyboardist Todd Caldwell — who put together a larger group to present the albums live.

“It was a band that I’d never played with…and they did remarkably well,” Nash points out. “Of course, Shane and Todd gave them the albums and said, ‘This is what we want to do…just learn your parts.’ And…they did. And…I only rehearsed with them probably for about three-and-a-half days.”

The group also included Caldwell’s brother Toby on drums, Thad DeBrock on pedal-steel guitar, one-time Black Crowes bassist Andy Hess and two female backup singers.

To create the live album, Nash says he listened to all four concerts and “chose the best versions of each song.”

Reflecting on the album’s quality, Graham says, “[T]hese tracks sound really good to me. Everyone’s singing good, everyone’s in tune, everyone’s playing well…I’m very proud of this record.”

Live — Songs for Beginners/Wild Tales is available now on CD, as a two-LP vinyl set and digitally.

Here’s the full track list:

Songs for Beginners
“Military Madness”
“Better Days”
“Wounded Bird”
“I Used to Be a King”
“Be Yourself”
“Simple Man”
“Man in the Mirror”
“There’s Only One”
“Sleep Song”
“Chicago”/”We Can Change the World”

Wild Tales
“Wild Tales”
“Hey You (Looking at the Moon)”
“Prison Song”
“You’ll Never Be the Same”
“And So It Goes”
“Grave Concern”
“Oh! Camil”
“I Miss You”
“On the Line”
“Another Sleep Song”

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Longtime Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit‘s latest solo studio album, Day by Day, was released today.

The 12-track collection features guest contributions from an impressive lineup of musicians, including Jackson Browne, Lindsey Buckingham, John Fogerty, longtime Tom Petty keyboardist Benmont Tench, Doobie Brothers multi-instrumentalist John McFee, blues-rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd and acclaimed session drummer Jim Keltner.

Coinciding with the album’s arrival, a music video for the project’s third single, “I Come Alive,” has debuted at Schmit’s YouTube channel. The clip features Timothy performing the upbeat, ska-flavored tune at a Los Angles rehearsal studio with most of his touring band and a trio of background singers.

“I was feeling really good about things in general when I started this song,” Schmit explains. “I decided it wasn’t necessary to try and go particularly deep, so I let it sort of roll out of me without too much second guessing. It’s a simple love song intended to express my feelings right from the surface.”

“I Come Alive” is preceded by the advance singles “Simple Man” and “Heartbeat.” Buckingham contributed electric guitar to “Simple Man,” which also features backing vocals from ex-Beach Boys touring members Chris Farmer and Matt Jardine, the latter being the son of founding Beach Boy Al Jardine.

Day by Day also includes a song titled “Grinding Stone” that features Schmit harmonizing with Browne and Fogerty. In addition, Timothy’s daughter Jeddrah sings backing vocals on the album.

Day by Day is Schmit’s seventh solo album overall, and his first since 2016’s Leap of Faith. It was recorded at his home studio in Los Angeles County during breaks on the Eagles’ tour schedule.

The album is available on CD, as a two-LP set and digitally.

Here’s the full Day by Day track list:

“Simple Man”
“The Next Rainbow”
“Heartbeat”
“Mr. X”
“Question of the Heart”
“Something You Should Know”
“I Come Alive”
“Feather in the Wind”
“Grinding Stone”
“Taste Like Candy”
“Conflicted”
“Where We Belong”

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Whitesnake has just released a new best-of compilation titled Whitesnake Greatest Hits, featuring remixed and remastered versions of 16 classic tracks by the band, via digital formats.

The album also will be issued on CD and as a two-LP vinyl set on June 17, while a CD/Blu-ray collection will follow on July 15.

The compilation includes updated mixes of such memorable Whitesnake songs as “Here I Go Again,” “Is This Love,” “Still of the Night,” “The Deeper the Love and “Fool for Your Love.”

Frontman David Coverdale who oversaw the project, notes, “We’ve definitely expanded on the original Greatest Hits, took them all out of the sonic time capsule of the ’80s and ’90s, and brought them up to date, sound-wise…as always, we have the original albums for those who consider them holy relics.”

Former Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian, who also contributed his talents to Whitesnake’s recent Red, White and Blues trilogy, played Hammond organ on over half the songs on the collection, among them “Here I Go Again” and “Fool for Your Loving.”

In addition, the updated mixes of the songs “The Deeper the Love” and “Judgement Day” include new performances from ex-Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg.

Coverdale also unearthed archival performances by former Whitesnake guitarist John Sykes that were included on mixes of “Slide It In” and “Give Me All Your Love.”

The new Whitesnake Greatest Hits album’s arrival coincides with the launch of the band’s farewell tour, which kicks off with European leg that begins May 10 in Dublin. Check out all of the dates at Whitesnake.com.

Here’s the full track list of Whitesnake Greatest Hits:

“Still of the Night”
“Here I Go Again”
“Is This Love”
“Give Me All Your Love”
“Love Ain’t No Stranger”
“Slide It In”
“Slow an’ Easy”
“Guilty of Love”
“Fool for Your Loving”
“Judgment Day”
“The Deeper the Love”
“Now You’re Gone”
“You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again”
“Sweet Lady Luck”
“Crying in the Rain”
“Forevermore”

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Barry Manilow is bringing his hit-packed show to the East Coast this August.

Barry’s Hits 2022 tour, featuring special guest Dave Koz, will kick off August 4 in Boston and wrap up in Philadelphia, PA on August 14. In between, he’ll perform in Newark, NJ; Queens, NY; Allentown, PA; and Providence, RI.

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, May 13 at 11 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster; American Express Card members can get them starting May 9 at 10 a.m. local time.

If you’d prefer to see Barry in Sin City, his The Hits Come Home! show at the Westgate International Theater in Las Vegas has been extended through 2023.

Here are the dates and venues for the Hits 2022 arena tour:

8/4 -– Boston, MA, TD Garden
8/5 -– Newark, NJ, Prudential Center
8/6 -– Belmont Park, NY, UBS Arena
8/12 –- Allentown, PA, PPL Center
8/13 –- Providence, RI, Dunkin’ Donuts Center
8/14 –- Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center

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