Classic Hits

With Journey set to release its latest studio album, Freedom, in a little over a month, the band has debuted an official music video for one of the tracks, “You Got the Best of Me,” a melodic rock tune that was made available as an advance single in April.

The clip, which you can watch now on Journey’s YouTube channel, features color and black-and-white performance footage of the band’s current touring lineup — founding guitarist Neal Schon, longtime keyboardist Jonathan Cain, lead singer Arnel Pineda, keyboardist/backing vocalist Jason Derlatka, drummer/singer Deen Castronovo and bassist Todd Jensen.

“You Got the Best of Me” showcases Schon’s fluid guitar riffs and Pineda’s soaring vocals.

As previously reported, Freedom will be released on July 8 and can be preordered now.

Two other advance tracks have also been released from Freedom, “The Way We Used to Be” and “Let It Rain,” which debuted in June 2021 and last month, respectively.

Shortly after Freedom arrives, Journey will play a series of four special symphonic concerts in Las Vegas — on July 15, 16, 22 and 23. The band has several other concerts lined up around the U.S. this summer. Visit JourneyMusic.com to check out their full schedule.

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This spring, The Monkees‘ Micky Dolenz and The Rascals‘ Felix Cavaliere have teamed up for several joint U.S. concerts dubbed “Legends Live!,” and the famous singers have two more co-headlining shows scheduled this week — on Friday in New York City and Saturday in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Dolenz tells ABC Audio that the shows with Cavaliere have been a great experience for him, as well as being a treat for music fans.

“Felix and I go back a while. He’s an incredible guy. His band is great. Everybody is so much fun,” Micky notes. “[H]e has so many huge hits. I am blessed to have had a number of big hits. And so it’s like two headliners. You’re kind of getting two shows for the price of one, if you will.”

Dolenz says he’s “a huge fan” of The Rascals, and loves all of the group’s big hits, including “Groovin’,” “Good Lovin'” and “Beautiful Morning.”

“You know, I sit in the wings…and watch part of his set every night, ’cause there’s so many great songs,” Micky reveals.

As for his own set, Dolenz tells ABC Audio he always performs all of The Monkees’ biggest hits.

“I know that the vast majority of fans and people that maybe don’t come to every single show, they want to hear those hits,” Micky notes.

This year marks the first time Dolenz has hit the road as the only surviving member of The Monkees, as Michael Nesmith sadly passed away last December just a few weeks after he and Micky finished a farewell tour together.

Asked how he feels about being the last Monkee, Dolenz says, “It’s strange…I don’t think I’ve probably completely processed it yet, ’cause it is quite recent.”

Check out Micky’s full upcoming schedule at MickyDolenz.com.

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The Rolling Stones launch their SIXTY tour June 1 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

The first leg of the trek, which celebrates the British rock legends’ 60th anniversary, will feature 14 concerts in 13 European cities, including a pair of concerts in London’s Hyde Park on June 25 and July 3. The tour winds down on July 31 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The Stones will also visit France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Austria and the Netherlands, and will play their first show in Liverpool, England, in over 50 years.

According to a press release that announced the outing, the SIXTY tour will feature “a spectacular new … production, including a massive stage, cutting edge lighting and state of the art video design.”

Steve Jordan, who stepped in for longtime Stones drummer Charlie Watts on the band’s 2021 No Filter tour of the U.S. after Watts’ death last August, will once again will be behind the kit for this trek.

The launch of the SIXTY tour also coincides with Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood‘s 75th birthday. The band posted a message on its social media sites that reads, “Happy birthday Ronnie Wood!! We’ll see you on stage tonight in Madrid to celebrate!”

The opening acts for tonight’s show are Sidonie and Vargas Blues Band. The latter act features John Byron Jagger, who is Stones frontman Mick Jagger‘s nephew.

As they have done for the last several years, The Stones are offering fans the chance to choose one song that they play prior to each show on their tour via an online vote.

Yesterday, Mick posted a series of photos on his Facebook page capturing him visiting various sites around Madrid.

Visit RollingStones.com to check out the band’s full tour schedule.

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Fifty years ago today, June 1, 1972, the Eagles soared into the music world with the release of their self-titled debut album.

The band’s country-rock sound, multiple-part harmonies and accomplished musicianship immediately were embraced by pop and rock fans.

The Eagles were formed in 1971 by a quartet of singing musicians — guitarist Glenn Frey, drummer Don Henley, guitarist Bernie Leadon and bassist Randy Meisner — all of whom were playing in Linda Ronstadt‘s backing band when the group came together.

Eagles yielded three hit singles — “Take It Easy,” “Witchy Woman” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” which peaked at #12, #9 and #22, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100. The album reached #22 on the Billboard 200 and has sold over 1 million copies in the U.S.

“Take It Easy” was co-written by Frey and his friend Jackson Browne, “Witchy Woman” was co-written by Henley and Leadon, and “Peaceful Easy Feeling” was composed by Glenn’s friend Jack Tempchin.

The album was produced by Glyn Johns, whom Frey wanted to record with because Johns had previously worked with The Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin. Johns initially turned the band down, but changed his mind after hearing the members performing the Meisner-penned song “Take the Devil” acoustically while singing harmonies together.

While the Eagles eventually were dominated by Frey and Henley, Johns told Uncut magazine in 2021 that at the time of the band’s debut album, all four members were “equally important.”

“Henley’s strongest contribution was his voice. The same with Frey,” Glyn said. “Bernie Leadon was great on banjo and guitar, and Randy Meisner was a fine bass player, with a voice of extraordinary range … Without any one of them, it wouldn’t have been the same.”

Here’s the Eagles album’s full track list:

“Take It Easy”
“Witchy Woman”
“Chug All Night”
“Most of Us Are Sad”
“Nightingale”
“Train Leaves Here This Morning”
“Take the Devil”
“Earlybird”
“Peaceful Easy Feeling”
“Tryin'”

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Volume one of the soundtrack to the fourth season of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things is available now via digital formats.

In addition to the previously announced Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks remix of Journey‘s 1983 hit “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart),” the album features songs by such other veteran rock artists as The Beach Boys, Talking Heads, Dead or Alive and KISS.

The track list includes The Beach Boys’ “California Dreamin’,” Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer,” Dead or Alive‘s “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” and KISS’ “Detroit Rock City,” as well as songs by Extreme, Baltimora, Kate Bush, Musical Youth, The Surfaris, Falco and Ricky Nelson.

The release of Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4, Volume I coincided with the premiere of the latest season of the series, which is split into two parts.

As previously reported, Volume II of theStranger Things‘ season 4 soundtrack will be released digitally on July 1, the day that the second part of the series’ current season premieres.

The digital version of Volume II will feature all of the songs that appear on Volume I, as well as additional music heard in the second run of episodes of Stranger Things‘ fourth season.

The full Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4, including both volumes, will be released on CD and cassette on September 9, while a two-LP vinyl edition will be made available later in 2022.

Here’s the full track list of Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4, Volume I:

“Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” (Bryce Miller/Alloy Tracks Remix) — Journey
“California Dreamin'” — The Beach Boys
“Psycho Killer” — Talking Heads
“Running Up That Hill” — Kate Bush
“You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” — Dead or Alive
“Chica Mejicanita” — Mae Arnette
“Play with Me” — Extreme
“Detroit Rock City” — KISS
“I Was a Teenage Werewolf” — The Cramps
“Pass the Dutchie” — Musical Youth
“Wipeout” — The Surfaris
“Object of My Desire” — Starpoint
“Rock Me Amadeus (The Gold Mix)” — Falco
“Travelin’ Man” — Ricky Nelson
“Tarzan Boy” — Baltimora
“Dream a Little Dream of Me” — Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

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Earlier this year, Jon Anderson teamed up with the students of the Paul Green Rock Academy for a five-date U.S. tour, and now the former Yes frontman is set to head out on the road with the talented young musicians for more shows this summer.

The new tour will feature Anderson and the students performing Yes’ 1972 album Close to the Edge in its entirety in honor of its 50th anniversary, plus other classic tunes and deep cuts by the prog-rock legends, as well as tunes from Anderson’s solo catalog, mashups and more.

The performances will showcase lush arrangements of the songs, including choral vocals, horns and other musical elements.

The trek currently features 13 dates and is mapped out from a July 7 concert in Plymouth, New Hampshire, through an August 6 show in Albany, New York.

Anderson says about performing with the Paul Green Rock Academy, “There are so many wonderful moments in my musical life, and being on stage with these young teenagers performing Classic Yes songs makes me so happy and proud … It’s a marvel and a tremendous pleasure for me.”

He adds, “They are a joy to be with and so much fun!!! I am grateful, thankful and feel very blessed to be able to sing along with them. [My wife] Janee and I love them all.”

Paul Green, meanwhile, explains that he was impressed with Anderson and the students’ performances of two songs from Close to the Edge — the title track and “And You and I” — at concerts last April. He adds, “Then when I heard it was the 50th anniversary of the album I just knew we had to do the whole thing. Jon agreed.”

Check out the full list of dates at Anderson’s Facebook page.

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Elvis Costello has reunited with an early musical collaborator, singer/guitarist Allan Mayes, to record an EP celebrating the 50th anniversary of Rusty, the band they played in together in 1972 and ’73.

The six-song collection, Rusty: The Resurrection of Rust, will be available via digital formats on June 10, while a CD version will be released in the U.S. on July 1. In England, Costello began selling CD copies of Rusty at a series of in-person events that began Sunday, May 29. A vinyl LP will be issued at a later date.

The EP features versions of songs that were originally part of Rusty’s live repertoire, including two tunes Nick Lowe wrote for his 1970s pub rock band Brinsley Schwarz — “Surrender to the Rhythm” and “Don’t Lose Your Grip on Love” — and an arrangement that incorporates Neil Young‘s “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” and “Dance, Dance, Dance.” The latter track features Costello’s debut performance on electric violin.

The Rusty EP also includes two original compositions — “Warm House,” which Costello penned in 1971, and “Maureen and Sam,” which Costello and Mayes co-wrote.

Costello and Mayes recorded the EP with backing from Costello’s band, The Imposters.

Costello — then known as D.P. McManus — joined Rusty on New Year’s Day 1972. The group played dozens of venues in and around their hometown of Liverpool, England, during the next year, but split up without ever recording.

Costello says the EP came about after Mayes — who now lives in Austin, Texas — contacted him to remind him that the 50th anniversary of him joining Rusty was approaching.

Costello notes that when Mayes suggested they get together to play some old songs, Costello responded, “Absolutely not! Let’s make the record we would have cut when we were 18, if anyone had let us.”

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Pink Floyd has joined the ranks of rock bands with their own official TikTok account.

The legendary U.K. rock band launched their TikTok account on Monday, May 30, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the day that the group entered the studio to start recording its classic 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have made all 15 of their studio albums available to the TikTok community to use to soundtrack their own videos creations. Among the classic Pink Floyd tunes that will be available via the TikTok Sound Library are “See Emily Play,” “Money,” “The Great Gig in the Sky,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Comfortably Numb,” and “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II).”

Pink Floyd also plans to use its TikTok account to regularly post unique video clips and content. Currently, the @pinkfloyd account features clips set to “Learning to Fly,” “Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)” and “Breathe (in the Air).”

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Since 2000, REO Speedwagon and Styx have regularly hit the road together, and the veteran rockers’ latest co-headlining trek, the Live & UnZoomed Tour, gets underway tonight in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The outing, which also features Loverboy, includes over 40 dates, and runs through a September 18 concert in Bangor, Maine.

REO Speedwagon keyboardist Neal Doughty says the idea to tour jointly with Styx came about at a time when the popularity of veteran rock acts “was kind of tapering off.”

“[W]e knew that we needed some kind of a better reason for people to come out and see classic rock,” Doughty points out. “So we just started this thing of, you know, let’s put two or three headline bands on the same show and that’ll get people out of their houses.”

Doughty says REO has never done a full tour with Loverboy before, while noting that the Canadian group is “another one of those bands that as soon as you start working with them, you’re immediately good friends.”

He adds, “[Lead singer] Mike Reno is a force of nature. He’s just such a lovable guy. So they’re gonna be a really good addition to the Styx and REO [tour].”

As for what fans can expect from REO Speedwagon’s set on the trek, Doughty explains, “We know we’re working for the audience, literally, so we’ve got to play the biggest hits and, of course…[when we do,] it goes through the roof.”

Neal says that beyond REO’s hit power ballads, like “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Keep On Loving You,’ “a lot of our live show goes back to the stuff we were doing in the ’70s, [such as] ‘Roll with the Changes’ and ‘Ridin’ the Storm Out.'”

Check out the full tour schedule at REOSpeedwagon.com and StyxWorld.com.

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Ronnie Hawkins, the Arkansas-born rockabilly singer who helped mentor the mostly Canadian rock group that became The Band, died Sunday at age 87 after a long illness, his wife confirmed to The Canadian Press.

During the 1950s, Hawkins began performing in local Arkansas clubs with his own bands. In the late ’50s, Hawkins formed the band Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks and soon recruited a local musician named Levon Helm to play drums.

The band relocated to Canada, and established themselves as one of the most popular rock groups in Toronto, with Hawkins gaining a reputation for his dynamic stage presence. Over the next few years, The Hawks underwent several lineups changes that eventually saw Canadian guitarist Robbie Robertson, bassist Rick Danko, pianist Richard Manual and organ player/saxophonist Garth Hudson playing alongside Hawkins and Helm.

In 1963, The Hawks split from Hawkins. Bob Dylan hired them as his backing band for his tours in 1965 and ’66. The group soon began writing original material and rechristened themselves The Band.

Hawkins had his greatest success as a recording artist with his 1959 solo single “Mary Lou,” which reached #26 on the Billboard pop singles chart.

In 1976, Hawkins made a memorable appearance at The Band’s famous farewell show “The Last Waltz,” as seen in the 1978 concert film of the same name.

Roberston has posted a lengthy tribute to Hawkins on his social media pages in which he credits Ronnie for helping him and other Band members launch their careers.

“My heart sank when I heard ‘The Hawk’ just flew into the sunset,” Robbie writes. “The story of The Band began with Ronnie Hawkins. He was our mentor. He taught us the rules of the road.”

Robertson adds, “He was not only a great artist, a tremendous performer and bandleader, but had a style of humor unequaled…[H]e will live in our hearts forever.”

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