Classic Hits

The Zombies have revealed that their two main members — co-founding singer Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent — both contracted the COVID-19 virus about three weeks ago. The band has since decided to cancel the first two dates of its new North American summer tour.

The shows had been scheduled for June 21 in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, and June 22 in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

A note posted on The Zombies’ Facebook page explains, “[Blunstone’s and Argent’s] cases were relatively mild, and they were determined to recover in time for the tour. Frustratingly, although both felt well enough to go forward, Rod was still showing a faint positive the day before their flight from London to Toronto. Out of concern for everyone’s health and safety, we decided it was best to give them a few extra days recuperation at home, and delay the start of the tour.”

The new leg of the band’s 2022 Life Is a Merry-Go-Round Tour is now scheduled to begin with their concert this Friday, June 24 in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.

The message adds, “We are making every effort to reschedule the Ontario shows, and will announce more information soon. Refund requests can also be made at your point of purchase. Our thanks to all the fans in Ontario for your understanding.”

The trek is mapped out through a July 28-30 engagement in Park City, Utah. You can check out the British Invasion band’s full schedule at TheZombiesMusic.com.

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Here’s sending out good vibrations to founding Beach Boys singer and songwriter Brian Wilson, who celebrates his 80th birthday today (June 20).

Wilson wrote the music to nearly all of his famous band’s best-known songs, from the Southern California group’s early surf-rock classics to their complex, multilayered recordings of the mid-1960s and beyond.

Among The Beach Boys’ classic early hits are “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Surfer Girl,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me, Rhonda” and “California Girls.”

With his impressive gift for vocal harmonies and musical arrangements, Wilson helped craft one of the most celebrated albums of all time, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, as well as the equally lauded follow-up single “Good Vibrations,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in December ’66.

In 1998, Pet Sounds was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2020, it was ranked at #2 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.”

Brian’s many career achievements include induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with The Beach Boys in 1988, induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000, being saluted as the MusiCares Person of the Year in 2005, and being recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007.

Wilson’s most recent album with The Beach Boys, That’s Why God Made the Radio, was released in 2012, coinciding with the band’s 50th anniversary. In recent years, he’s focused on his solo career. His latest studio album, At My Piano, was released in November 2021 and features solo piano versions of many classic Beach Boys songs.

Brian also was the subject of the 2021 documentary Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road, which features new interviews with Wilson as well as with Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, co-founding Beach Boys member Al Jardine, pop star Nick Jonas and more.

Wilson continues to tour with his solo band, which features Jardine and one-time Beach Boys singer/guitarist Blondie Chaplin. They recently launched a co-headlining trek with Chicago.

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A new Def Leppard coffee-table book titled Definitely: The Official Story of Def Leppard is expected to be released in the coming months by Genesis Publications.

According to a synopsis posted at Genesis-Publications.com, the book will offer “the most personal and comprehensive record of Def Leppard’s history to date,” and will feature personal recollections from the band’s members as well as rare photos and memorabilia from Def Leppard’s archives.

Among the interesting ephemera featured in the book will be handwritten letters, rare vinyl discs, tour memorabilia, press clippings, music video storyboards and more.

Definitely will be available as a signed, limited-edition book-and-album set from Genesis Publications. You can register at the publishing company’s website to receive more information.

In other news, Def Leppard has posted a video on its YouTube channel featuring a recap of the band’s first gig on The Stadium Tour with Mötley Crüe, Poison and Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, which took place Thursday, June 16, in Atlanta.

The clip featured footage from the rain-drenched show and post-gig comments from singer Joe Elliott and guitarist Phil Collen.

In the video, Elliot described the concert as “the wettest gig” his band has done since 1986.

“It rained all night long, but the crowd stuck with us,” Joe notes. “Nobody left, nobody moaned.

Collen adds, “Amazing! Everything that could have gone wrong did. We had kind of like a hurricane storm…coming through. It was just drenched. The drums went off at one point, we carried on like nothing had happened.”

The tour has since stopped in the Miami area on Saturday and Orlando, Florida, on Sunday. The next show is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22, in Washington, D.C.

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Former Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter released his first solo album, Speed of Heat, Friday.

The 12-track collection features a mix of original tunes and select covers. Among the latter are versions of the Steely Dan classics “My Old School” and “Do It Again,” and of the 1960 instrumental “Apache” that was popularized by The Shadows.

The album features Baxter singing lead on some tracks, as well as some guest vocalists and musicians, including his one-time Doobie Brothers bandmate Michael McDonald, country star Clint Black and blues rocker Jonny Lang.

Baxter’s main collaborator on Speed of Heat was veteran producer, composer and keyboardist CJ Vanston.

Toto‘s David Paich contributes keyboards to Jeff’s cover of “My Old School.” Speed of Heat also includes a song called “My Place in the Sun” that Baxter co-wrote with Vanston and McDonald, and features Michael on vocals. Lang co-write, sings and plays guitar on a tune titled “I Can Do Without,” while Black sings on and co-wrote the song “Bad Move.”

“This is something very new for me, never having focused time and energy on creating a solo project before,” says Baxter about Speed of Heat. “It was a lot of fun and very satisfying to be doing something for myself, as opposed to being a hired gun, (not that I don’t enjoy studio work, producing and playing live with other folks. That will never change!).”

Meanwhile, Baxter is planning to announce a West Coast tour in support of the album soon.

Here’s the full Speed of Heat track list:

“Ladies from Hell”
“My Old School”
“Juliet”
“I Can Do Without”
“Do It Again”
“Apache”
“My Place in the Sun”
“The Rose”
“Bad Move”
“Giselle”
“Insecurity”
“Speed of Heat”

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Sheila E. and Lenny Kravitz are among the latest list of celebrities who will be honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it was announced Friday.

The “Glamorous Life” singer/percussionist and the “Are You Gonna Go My Way” rocker are part of the Walk of Fame’s class of 2023 honorees, meaning that sometime in the future they’ll be receiving a star on the legendary landmark. The date that their stars will be unveiled has not been set — like all recipients, they have two years to schedule a ceremony.

Other celebs from the Recording category who will be getting stars: Marc Anthony, country superstar Blake Shelton, R&B legend Charlie Wilson, music executive Irving Azoff, the Jonas Brothers and the late Mexican singer Jenni Rivera, who died in a plane crash in 2012.

Singer Melba Moore, vocal group Pentatonix and classical pianist Lang Lang also are being honored with stars, but in the category of Live Theatre/Live Performance.

On the TV side, Mindy Kaling, Jon Favreau, Martin Lawrence, Ralph Macchio, Ellen Pompeo and original Saturday Night Live cast member Garrett Morris will be honored.

In the Motion Pictures category, rapper/actor Ludacris, Bill Pullman, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, filmmaker John Waters, and the late Juanita Moore and Paul Walker will be getting stars.

You can check out a video of the Walk of Fame’s class of 2023 honorees being announced on Variety’s official YouTube channel.

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The recently announced expanded and remastered reissue of The Beach Boys‘ 2003 hits compilation Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys got its release Friday.

The arrival of the retrospective signals the launch of a planned yearlong worldwide celebration marking The Beach Boys’ 60th anniversary.

The updated collection features 80 tracks, 50 more than the original version, and includes classic hits and deeper cuts spanning from the group’s 1962 debut album, Surfin’ Safari, through 1989’s Still Cruisin’.

The track list boasts nearly every top-40 single that the band released, including “California Girls,” “I Get Around,” “Surfer Girl,” “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Kokomo,” “Barbara Ann” and “Help Me, Rhonda.” Among the newly added songs are such gems as “Disney Girls,” “Feel Flows,” “Sail On Sailor” and “Surf’s Up.”

The Sounds of Summer reissue includes 24 new mixes, with two tracks getting stereo mixes for the first time. The collection is available as a three-CD set, via digital formats and as a six-LP vinyl package. A limited-edition version of the vinyl collection features a rainbow foil slipcase and four lithographs.

All physical versions include a booklet offering updated photos and new liner notes. A remastered version of the original 30-track compilation also has been released on CD and as a two-LP set.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been 60 years since we signed to Capitol Records and released our first album, Surfin’ Safari,” the band says of its milestone anniversary. “We were just kids in 1962 and could have never dreamed about where our music would take us, that it would have such a big impact on the world, still be loved, and continue to be discovered by generation after generation.”

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Limited-edition vinyl discs from Paul McCartney, Prince, The Who and Creedence Clearwater Revival are among the exclusive releases that’ll be available at independent record stores this Saturday, June 18, for the second of two 2022 installments of Record Store Day.

McCartney’s offering is a 12-inch vinyl single featuring two versions of his recent tune “Women and Wives,” which has been chosen as Record Store Day’s first Song of the Year release. The single features McCartney’s original version — which appeared on 2020’s McCartney III album — and alt-rocker St. Vincent‘s 2021 remix of the tune that was included on the McCartney III Imagined record.

Prince’s Record Store Day release is an expanded, two-LP gold-vinyl version of his 1995 studio album The Gold Experience, which includes several remixes of the song “Eye Hate U.”

The Who are issuing an expanded 40th anniversary edition of their 1982 album It’s Hard. The two-LP collection features bonus tracks, and one orange and one yellow disc.

CCR’s offering is a 7-inch vinyl single featuring a previously unreleased performance of “Travelin’ Band” from an April 1970 concert at London’s famed Royal Albert Hall and a January 1970 rendition of “Who’ll Stop the Rain” from a show at California’s Oakland Coliseum.

This Saturday’s Record Store Day drop features over 75 titles in all, including releases from Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Richie Furay, Peter Gabriel, Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band, ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons, ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, The Kinks, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, The Sweet and Barry White.

For the full list of releases and participating stores, visit RecordStoreDay.com.

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Paul McCartney‘s magical mystery tour of a life brings him to his 80th birthday this Saturday.

The music that McCartney has made as a member of The Beatles and a solo artist has served as the soundtrack to so many people’s lives and has inspired countless musicians.

Several well-known artists have shared birthday wishes and messages for McCartney with ABC Audio.

The Who‘s Pete Townshend says he has Sir Paul’s phone number saved in his own mobile phone, and he plans to text him “Happy Birthday” on his big day.

“As for him turning 80, you know, he’s perennial,” Townshend adds. “I don’t know how he keeps going. He obviously loves performing. And it can’t be anything to do with money.”

Longtime Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain describes McCartney as “the quintessential songwriter.”

“[P]robably only Elton John that I can think of…has been so prolific, and has left us with such enduring melody,” Cain adds. “[McCartney] is the king of melody, as far as I’m concerned. No one comes close to what he’s laid down. And he continues to bring it.”

Founding Doobie Brothers singer/guitarist Pat Simmons declares, “Congratulations to Paul McCartney on being one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time, and still doing it. Just…thanks for the inspiration from the rest of us.”

Simmons also recalls the first time he saw McCartney in concert several years ago in Japan.

“It was…a fantastic show, maybe one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, period, as far as…musical presentations,” says Pet. “The guy played for three hours straight, never took a break, sang like he was 18 years old…Paul was top of his game, and as far as I hear, he still is.”

Here are a few other birthday messages for McCartney:

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell: “My old friend, Paul McCartney. Happy birthday, brother, I hope I make it as far as you did.”

The Monkees‘ Micky Dolenz: “Happy birthday! I love him to death. And health and happiness, you know? He’s incredible.”

The Rascals‘ Felix Cavaliere: Paul is probably one of the two, three greatest songwriters of our time. There’s no question about it. Prolific is not the word…I really applaud him for still being out there working. I know he loves it just as much as we love it, and [I’m] just happy to have known him over the years…Happy birthday.”

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A day before Paul McCartney celebrates his 80th birthday, the music legend has announced plans to release a limited-edition box set gathering together his three self-titled solo albums — 1970’s McCartney, 1980’s McCartney II and 2020’s McCartney III — on August 5.

The McCartney I II III collection, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available in three formats -– a three-CD set, a three-LP black-vinyl package and a limited-edition three-LP colored-vinyl set.

All three versions will feature three photo prints with notes from the former Beatles star about each record. The box set also will boast newly created cover art.

The common thread between all three albums is that Paul wrote, produced and recorded almost entirely by himself.

Released in April 1970, McCartney was Paul’s debut album and signaled the breakup of The Beatles. The record spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, although no singles were released from it. The album included the enduring song “Maybe I’m Amazed” as well as such gems as “Every Night,” “Junk” and “Teddy Boy,” three tunes that McCartney previously had worked on with The Beatles.

McCartney II was released in May 1980 and found the veteran rocker experimenting with synthesizers and modern recording techniques. The album reached #3 on the Billboard 200 and included the chart-topping hit “Coming Up” and the tune “Waterfalls,” which was a top-10 single in the U.K.

McCartney III was recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown and was released at the end of December 2020. It debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200.

Here’s the McCartney track list:

“The Lovely Linda”
“That Would Be Something”
“Valentine Day”
“Every Night”
“Hot as Sun/Glasses”
“Junk”
“Man We Was Lonely”
“Oo You”
“Momma Miss America”
“Teddy Boy”
“Singalong Junk”
“Maybe I’m Amazed”
“Kreen-Akrore”

Here’s the McCartney II track list:

“Coming Up”
“Temporary Secretary”
“On the Way”
“Waterfalls”
“Nobody Knows”
“Front Parlour”
“Summer’s Day Song”
“Frozen Jap”
“Bogey Music”
“Darkroom”
“One of These Days”

And here’s the McCartney III track list:

“Long Tailed Winter Bird”
“Find My Way”
“Pretty Boys”
“Women and Wives”
“Lavatory Lil”
“Slidin'”
“Deep Deep Feeling”
“The Kiss of Venus”
“Seize the Day”
“Deep Down”
“Winter Bird/When Winter Comes”

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Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson have joined the star-studded lineups of Foo Fighters‘ tribute concerts in honor of late drummer Taylor Hawkins, taking place in London on September 3 and Los Angeles on September 27.

Jones will be performing at both concerts, while Wilson will take part in the LA event.

Other new additions include Nirvana‘s Krist Novoselic, frequent Foo Fighters producer Greg Kurstin and Queens of the Stone Age collaborator Alain Johannes at both shows, as well as Chic‘s Nile Rodgers and viral kid music prodigy Nandi Bushell at the London concert, and pop star Pink and country/pop singer LeAnn Rimes at the Los Angeles event.

Additionally, Chris Rock will join fellow comedian Dave Chappelle at the London show.

Previously announced performers for both shows include Queen‘s Brian May and Roger Taylor, Rush‘s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, The Police‘s Stewart Copeland, Wolfgang Van Halen, Jane’s Addiction‘s Chris Chaney, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, producer Mark Ronson and drummer/producer Omar Hakim.

The LA lineup also includes Joan Jett, Alanis Morissette, KISS‘ Gene Simmons, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, Mötley Crüe‘s Nikki Sixx, Miley Cyrus, Weezer‘s Pat Wilson, The Struts‘ Luke Spiller and Rage Against the Machine‘s Brad Wilk, while The Pretenders‘ Chrissie Hynde and ex-Oasis singer Liam Gallagher are exclusive to the London bill.

The guests will be “playing the songs that Taylor loved and created, with and alongside his FF brothers Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee,” a press release says.

The London concert takes place at Wembley Stadium, while the LA show will be held at The Kia Forum. For ticket info, visit FooFighters.com.

Ticket proceeds will be donated to charities in the U.S. and U.K. chosen by Hawkins’ family.

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