Classic Hits

Rod Stewart was one of the performers at the Platinum Party at the Palace, the star-studded concert celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee over the weekend. Rod was criticized for his performance of the Neil Diamond hit “Sweet Caroline” at the event, with some saying he sounded off-key. Now his wife, Penny Lancaster, is defending him, saying the rock legend was just recovering from COVID.

Appearing on the British TV show Loose Women Thursday, Penny explained that the BBC insisted that Rod sing “Sweet Caroline” — a British soccer anthem — by telling him it was the queen’s favorite. “So he didn’t have much of a choice there,” Penny noted. 

Rod said as much during the show, literally telling the crowd, “The BBC made me sing it, join in and make it comfortable for me.”

But in addition to Rod singing a song he wasn’t comfortable with, Penny said there were other extenuating circumstances.

“It was very, very touch and go and he was so nervous leading up to it,” she said. “He [had performed for] three weeks in Vegas and caught COVID just after the last show. He came home and was past the 10-day period of being contagious but he lost his voice. So the sound check on the Wednesday — he went along and wore a mask but had no voice.”

She added, “So he went for another rehearsal on the Friday … he wasn’t quite on, but he didn’t want to disappoint anybody. It wasn’t the Rod Stewart show; it was for the nation and for everybody to come together for the queen and he wanted to please the people, so that was the song.”

On Rod’s Instagram, he only posted the other song he performed: his hit “Baby Jane.”

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During a concert last week in Gateshead, England, Jeff Beck announced that he and actor/musician Johnny Depp would be releasing a collaborative album in July, and now official details of the project have been unveiled.

The album, titled 18, will be released July 15 on CD and digital formats, while a 180-gram vinyl version will arrive September 30. The 13-track collection, which can be preordered now, features two Depp originals and 11 covers, including songs by The Beach Boys, The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Velvet Underground and The Everly Brothers.

Beck and Depp performed several songs from 18 during Jeff’s recent U.K. tour, which featured guest appearances by Johnny at nearly every stop.

Beck and Depp began working on 18 in 2019 after becoming friends a few years earlier. Fans got a first taste of the collaboration in 2020 when the duo released a cover of John Lennon‘s “Isolation,” which is also included on the CD and digital versions of the album.

“When Johnny and I started playing together, it really ignited our youthful spirit and creativity,” Beck says. “We would joke about how we felt 18 again, so that just became the album title, too.”

One of the Depp originals, “This Is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr,” has been released as an advance digital single, while a companion music video has debuted at Jeff’s official YouTube channel.

Beck says he “was blown away by” the song when Johnny asked him to play guitar on the track.

Meanwhile, Depp, who has played with the supergroup The Hollywood Vampires alongside Alice Cooper and Aerosmith‘s Joe Perry for the last decade, says, “It’s an extraordinary honor to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats.”

Here’s the full 18-track list:

“Midnight Walker” (Davy Spillane cover)
“Death and Resurrection Show” (Killing Joke cover)
“Time” (Dennis Wilson cover)
“Sad Motherf***in’ Parade” (Johnny Depp original)
“Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)” (Beach Boys cover)
“This Is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr” (Johnny Depp original)
“Caroline, No” (Beach Boys cover)
“Ooo Baby Baby” (The Miracles cover)
“What’s Going On” (Marvin Gaye cover)
“Venus in Furs” (The Velvet Underground cover)
“Let It Be Me” (The Everly Brothers cover)
“Stars” (Janis Ian cover)
“Isolation” (John Lennon cover)*
 
* = on digital and CD version only.

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Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum‘s memoir, Double Talkin’ Jive: True Rock ‘n’ Roll Stories, was published last month.

In the book, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer opens up about his dramatic and dangerous early years as a drug dealer, and recounts his many adventures with GN’R during his 1990-1997 stint with the band, as well as his work and exploits with many other well-known rock artists, including the supergroups Velvet Revolver and Kings of Chaos, The Cult, and ZZ Top‘s Billy Gibbons.

Double Talkin’ Jive also finds Sorum writing candidly about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, and reflecting on the pitfalls of rock stardom.

“[I]t was a wild ride through some emotional stuff,” Matt tells ABC Audio about his experience writing the book. “It was a lot of…growth in [doing] it. It was very cathartic. It gave me a really good opportunity to know that I’ve changed in a good way, thank God.”

As for his time with Guns N’ Roses, Sorum notes, “I traveled the world at the highest level, had so many amazing experiences all over the world….And to this day, I’m still recognized as the guy [from GN’R]…I’ve been out of the band [for about 25 years], but I still have that tagline, and people still respect that…I did that piece of work.”

He adds, “[The book is] a good read. I hope everyone enjoys it, just as a guy that sat up on the drum throne for a lot of cool bands and saw a lot of stuff.”

Double Talkin’ Jive is available now. Signed copies and a limited-edition version that includes a vinyl LP featuring audio of Sorum narrating the book, accompanied by music played by him, can be purchased at RareBirdLit.com.

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Prog Collective, the star-studded prog-rock project helmed by current Yes and Asia bassist Billy Sherwood, will release its fourth studio album, Songs We Were Taught, on July 1.

The 10-track covers collection features renditions of a variety of popular and influential songs from the 1960s and ’70s.

Among the many well-known artists who have contributed to the album are Yes singer Jon Davison and keyboardist Geoff Downes, Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent, ex-Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, longtime Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre, Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse, former Yes/Moody Blues keyboardist Patrick Moraz, ex-Guns N’ Roses guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, original E Street Band keyboardist David Sancious and Dweezil Zappa.

One of the tracks, a cover of the classic Animals hit “House of the Rising Sun” featuring former Blood, Sweat & Tears frontman David Clayton-Thomas and ex-Gong guitarist Steve Hillage, has been released as an advance digital track.

Among the other songs on the album are versions of Simon & Garfunkel‘s “The Sound of Silence,” Al Stewart‘s “Year of the Cat,” Seals and Crofts‘ “Summer Breeze,” James Taylor‘s “Fire and Rain,” The Band‘s “The Weight,” Cat Stevens‘ “Wild World,” Bob Dylan‘s “The Times They Are A-Changin'” and Carole King‘s “It’s Too Late.”

Songs We Were Taught can be preordered now on CD and as a purple-vinyl LP at CleoRecs.com. It is also available via digital formats.

Here’s the album’s full track list, along with the artists who contributed to each song:

“The Sound of Silence” (Simon & Garfunkel) — Jon Davison (Yes) and Geoff Downes (Yes/Asia)
“Year of the Cat” (Al Stewart) — Billy Sherwood (Yes/Circa) and David Sancious (Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band)
“House of the Rising Sun” (Bob Dylan/The Animals) — David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat and Tears) and Steve Hillage (Gong)
“In the Land of Grey and Pink” (Caravan) — Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N’ Roses)
“Summer Breeze” (Seals and Crofts) — Roine Stolt (The Flower Kings) and Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs/Deep Purple)
“Fire and Rain” (James Taylor) — Sonja Kristina (Curved Air) and Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
“The Weight” (The Band) — Rod Argent (The Zombies) and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (The Doobie Brothers)
“Wild World” (Cat Stevens) — Rosalie Cunningham (Ipso Facto) and Patrick Moraz (The Moody Blues/Yes)
“It’s Too Late” (Carole King) — Candice Night (Blackmore’s Night) and Dweezil Zappa
“The Times They Are A-Changin'” (Bob Dylan) — Martin Turner (Wishbone Ash) and Jerry Goodman (The Flock)

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The documentary about George Michael, narrated by the late star, arrives in theaters June 22, and an exclusive new clip takes a deep dive into the origins of the late singer’s revolutionary “Freedom ’90” music video.

Elton John and Chic‘s Nile Rodgers both make an appearance in the nearly two-minute clip and discuss how Michael’s work permanently changed the music industry.

“It changed the whole face of how videos were done,” said Sir Elton. “The video said everything. It was genius and it was a revolutionary thing.”

Added Rodgers, “George had raised the bar to a whole new level.”

Michael didn’t want to be featured in the music video and instead asked five supermodels to star in “Freedom ’90.”

“It was a specific group of women that George wanted that had just been on the cover of British Vogue that was shot by Peter Lindbergh. It was like, ‘He wants you five and it has to be all you five,'” recalled model Cindy Crawford.

Added Naomi Campbell, who was also in the music video, “George pitched it to me in L.A. and his exact words were, ‘You’re the leader of the gang and unless you say yes, the rest of the girls won’t.'”

George Michael Freedom Uncut explores the late singer’s career following the release of his 1987 album, Faith, which skyrocketed him into fame, through the release of his 1990 follow-up work, Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1. That period in his career saw George fight for his artistic freedom while grieving the loss of his mother and first real love.

Visit GeorgeMichaelFreedomUncut.com to purchase tickets and see a list of theaters showing the film.

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Dave Mason fans will be “feelin’ alright” in the coming months as the former Traffic singer/guitarist is kicking off a U.S. summer leg of his World in Changes tour this week.

The trek begins with a pair of shows in California — tonight in Carmel by the Sea and Thursday in Petaluma.

Mason will then head to the East Coast, where he will launch a series of shows with July 18 performance in Boston. The 76-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer will also visit the Midwest and south-central U.S. during the trek, which winds down with a July 22 concert in Omaha, Nebraska, that will see Dave supporting Sheryl Crow.

The Omaha show is a special free event that will be held in the city’s Memorial Park and will also feature a fireworks display.

Mason has also lined up a trio of fall U.S. concerts in the Northwest — on November 11 in Portland, Oregon, and November 12 and 13 in Seattle. Check out his full itinerary at DaveMasonMusic.com.

Dave’s most recent album is Alone Together…Again, a rerecorded version of his 1970 debut solo album Alone Together that was released in 2020. Alone Together includes Mason’s hit “Only You Know and I Know” and the gem “World in Changes.”

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Toto founder David Paich is among the artists mourning the passing of Seals and Crofts‘ Jim Seals, who, according to The New York Times, died Monday at his home in Nashville at age 79 from an unspecified “ongoing chronic illness.”

Prior to the formation of Toto, Paich played keyboards on four Seals and Crofts albums during the mid-1970s and also worked on the string arrangements of some of the duo’s recordings.

“I can’t say enough about [Seals],” Paich tells ABC Audio. “What a consummate musician and teacher, tutor, guru — everything. And he was such a sweetheart [of a] guy. Nicest guy in the world.”

David adds, “[I] definitely would use the word genius when it comes to Jimmy Seals, ’cause he could just sit and play these songs, and they were just fantastic to hear him play. And then to get to perform with him was just a treat and an honor.”

Paich also reveals that the first hit record he played on after graduating from high school was Seals and Crofts’ “Diamond Girl,” noting that he went on to play on several of the duo’s albums, along with future Toto drummer Jeff Porcaro and, on some tracks, original Toto bassist David Hungate.

Paich tells ABC Audio that while collaborating with the duo, he learned a lot of studio techniques that he still uses today, such as “layering vocals and how to deal with a lot of information on tracks.”

In addition, David notes that he, Porcaro and Hungate all played in the Seals and Crofts touring band.

“It warms my heart and puts a smile on my face to talk about Jimmy Seals,” Paich says. “You know, it was nothing but an endearing, informative learning process with him, and … I’ll never forget him as long as I live.”

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An expansive Blondie box set titled Blondie: Against the Odds 1974-1982 that focuses on the influential New Wave band’s original heyday and is fully authorized by the group will be released on August 26.

The retrospective will be available in multiple formats and configurations, including an eight-CD set and a Super Deluxe Collectors’ Edition featuring 10 12-inch vinyl LPs, a 10-inch LP and a 7-inch vinyl single.

The vinyl box set features 124 tracks, 36 of which are previously unreleased. The collection contains remastered versions of Blondie’s first six studio albums — 1976’s Blondie, 1977’s Plastic Letters, 1978’s Parallel Lines, 1979’s Eat to the Beat, 1980’s Autoamerican and 1982’s The Hunter — and four LPs of outtakes, demos, remixes, alternate versions and other rarities.

The 10-inch disc features rarities from 1974 and ’75, while the vinyl single boasts a cover of The Doors‘ “Moonlight Drive” and a demo of “Mr. Sightseer.”

The box set also includes extensive liner notes; track-by-track commentary from Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke and former members Jimmy Destri, Nigel Harrison, Frank Infante and Gary Valentine; essays by producers Mike Chapman, Richard Gottehrer and Ken Shipley; and a 120-page illustrated discography.

Blondie: Against the Odds will also be available as a four-LP package, a three-CD set and digitally, and can be preordered now. The “Moonlight Drive” cover has been released as an advance digital single.

“I am excited about this special collection,” says Harry. “When I listen to these old tracks, it puts me there like I am a time traveler.”

Adds Stein, “I am hopeful that this project will provide a glimpse into the ‘process’ and some of the journey that the songs took from idea to final form.”

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Two concerts held in tribute to late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins will take place this September in London and in Los Angeles, the band announced Wednesday.

The announcement reads, in part, “Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear and Rami Jaffee will come together with the Hawkins family to celebrate the life, music and love of their husband, father, brother and bandmate with The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concerts.” 

One show will be held at London’s Wembley Stadium on September 3; the other is set for September 27 at The Kia Forum in LA.  Tickets go on sale June 17, with the lineups for each show to be announced “shortly,” the band said.

The statement goes on to note that “several” of the musicians Hawkins idolized, who offered “passionate and sincere tributes” in the wake of his death on March 25, will appear at the shows, along with the Hawkins family and the band. The shows will feature Hawkins’ “bandmates and his inspirations playing the songs that he fell in love with, and the ones he brought to life.”

You can sign up for a mailing list to receive information on “timings, ticketing links and on sale dates.”

Hawkins died when the band was on tour in Colombia.  Though there has been much speculation regarding his cause of death, no official cause has yet been publicly revealed.

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A new biographical book about Creedence Clearwater Revival titled A Song for Everyone that charts the band’s history and the examines how its music reflected the cultural landscape of its time, will be published on August 9.

Described as “the definitive biography” of the group, the book follows the band — featuring brothers John and Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook and Doug Clifford — from its formation in El Cerrito, California, in 1959 as The Blue Velvets through its mid-1960s  incarnation The Golliwogs and its rise to fame in the late ’60s after changing its name to Creedence Clearwater Revival to its 1972 breakup.

In just three years, from 1969 to 1972, CCR released nine singles that reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, among them “Proud Mary,” “Bad Moon Rising,” “Fortunate Son,” “Travelin’ Band,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain” and “Have You Ever Seen the Rain.” Many of those songs are considered timeless classics that continue to be embraced by generations of music fans.

A Song for Everyone was penned by author John Lingan, who has written for The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, Pitchfork and The Oxford American. The book was put together utilizing extensive interviews with CCR members and associates of the group, unpublished memoirs from people who were close to the band, and in-depth research focusing the musical and social developments that occurred from 1959 to 1972.

You can pre-order A Song for Everyone now. Visit HachetteBooks.com for more information.

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