Classic Hits

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Platinum Jubilee — 70 years on the throne — this weekend.  Throughout her reign, the queen has conferred knighthoods and other honors on many musicians, from Ed Sheeran, Elton John and Paul McCartney to Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox and Bono. Sting, who was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, says he admires the queen’s dedication.

“I think she’s had a very difficult job and she’s done it with a great deal of grace and detachment,” Sting told ABC Audio on Friday. “In many ways, she’s … y’know, she has no political power. She’s just a symbol. And I think she’s been a pretty good example.”

Sting, however, is aware that the British Empire’s past sins have made some countries in the Commonwealth want independence. Most recently, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the country wants to remove the queen as the head of state.

“I know there’s some controversy in Jamaica for good reason. You know, the British Empire was not the most salubrious of things. So [my feelings about it are] a mixture of both. I’m not really a monarchist, but I respect the queen.”

He laughs, “She gave me a medal, so I’m grateful!”

Sting’s friend and musical collaborator Shaggy, who was born in Jamaica, says he has no problem with the queen.

“I’m about hard work,” he tells ABC Audio. “And when I look at her age and she’s still making these appearances and still owning up to her duties. I mean, I tip my hat off to her. That is amazing!”

Sting and Shaggy recently teamed up to make an album called Come Fly Wid Mi, featuring Shaggy singing Frank Sinatra classics, with Sting producing and contributing vocals.

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Jackson Browne has debuted an official video for “Minutes to Downtown,” an introspective track from his latest studio album, 2021’s Downhill from Everywhere.

The clip, which you can watch at Browne’s YouTube channel, features the 73-year-old singer/songwriter driving around Los Angeles during the day and evening while wearing mirrored sunglasses. The video was directed by Jackson’s son Ryan Browne.

“The song is about wanting to be somewhere else, but for whatever reasons, you’re tied to the place where you live and the things you do,” Jackson says about the tune. “So I wanted it to be me driving around. To me, the video has a distinctive feature, which is that nothing happens. You don’t arrive anywhere, right?”

Coinciding with the clip’s premiere, Jackson will kick off a new U.S. leg of his “An Evening With” tour Friday night with a show in Maryland Heights, Missouri. The summer trek, which features the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer performing with his full backing band, is plotted out through a four-show stand — July 26, 27, 29 and 30 — at New York City’s Beacon Theatre.

Jackson also has another leg of the tour lined up for later this year, which runs from an August 31 performance in San Diego through a September 25 concert at the famed Red Rock Park & Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado.

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Jeff Beck has been joined by a very famous special guest on his current U.K. tour — guitarist Johnny Depp. At the British blues-rock guitarist’s latest concert, in Gateshead on Tuesday, he revealed that he and the Pirates of the Caribbean star will be releasing a collaborative album soon.

Stereogum reports that during the concert, Beck said to the audience, “I met this guy five years ago, and we’ve never stopped laughing since. We actually made an album. I don’t know how it happened. It will be out in July.”

According to Setlist.fm, Depp joined Beck at his last four U.K. concerts to perform several songs, including an original called “Hedy Lamarr.” They also covered John Lennon‘s “Isolation,” late Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson‘s “Time,” Marvin Gaye‘s “What’s Going On,” Jimi Hendrix‘s “Little Wing,” Killing Joke‘s “The Death and Resurrection Show” and The Beatles‘ “A Day in the Life.”

Beck and Depp actually released a collaborative studio version of “Isolation” as a digital single in 2020.

Depp’s latest performance with Beck came a day after Johnny scored a major legal victory against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, as jurors agreed that she defamed him with an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018.

Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages in the defamation suit, although the judge clarified that Virginia law caps the latter at $350,000. 

Depp, 58, sued Heard, 36, for $50 million, claiming the article obliquely — and falsely — accused him of abuse, which, he maintained, devastated his film career.

Beck has four concerts left on his U.K. trek, but it’s not known if Depp will perform at the upcoming shows.

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After being presented an honorary doctorate by Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music virtually last month during the school’s 2022 commencement festivities, Ringo Starr got to accept the degree in person on Thursday at an intimate event held at Berklee’s David Friend Recital Hall.

The Boston Herald reports that the ceremony began with performances from Berklee students, followed by introductory remarks from the school’s president, Erica Muhl, and drummer Gregg Bissonette, a longtime member of Ringo’s All Starr Band.

Ringo then took the stage to accept the honor. During his speech, video of which has been posted on Berklee’s official YouTube channel, the former Beatles drummer thanked the school and declared, “The idea that I’m a doctor blows me away.”

He then commented, “I just hit the buggers, and it seems to be I hit them in the right place.” Ringo went over to a drum kit set up on stage and demonstrated a couple of simple lessons he’s given to fledgling drummers, including his son Zak Starkey.

Ringo also recalled how he developed a passion for drumming after he was given a little drum to play in a hospital while he was recuperating from an illness as a teenager.

“I just wanted to be a drummer from that moment on. It was my big dream,” Ringo said. “And it’s still unfolding.”

Ringo and the All Starr Band also played a concert in Boston Thursday night at the Wang Theatre. Their current North American tour continues Friday night in Worcester, Massachusetts.

At the May commencement, Ringo sent a prerecorded video featuring another acceptance speech that you can also watch at Berklee’s YouTube channel.

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With today marking the 70th anniversary of the coronation of the U.K.’s Queen Elizabeth II, Sir Paul McCartney posted a message on his social media sites congratulating the 96-year-old monarch on her long reign.

“70 beautiful years of Queen Elizabeth the second. Congrats ma’ am! And thanks,” Paul writes. Accompanying the caption is a photo of McCartney with the queen in 1996 at the opening of the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which the former Beatles legend co-founded.

A variety of Platinum Jubilee events commemorating Queen Elizabeth’s 70th anniversary have been scheduled over the next few days, including the Platinum Party at the Palace concert this Saturday, June 4, which will feature performances from Rod Stewart, Elton John, Queen + Adam Lambert, Duran Duran, Diana Ross and many other stars.

Meanwhile, McCartney, who is currently touring the U.S., has revealed his preconcert ritual in a new installment of his “You Gave Me the Answer” Q&A feature.

McCartney says he begins his routine about an hour before he has to hit the stage.

“I have a gargle with salt water, then I do my teeth, then I figure out what I’m going to wear, and then I have a kind of Chinese syrup solution you put hot water in. It’s supposed to be good for your throat,” McCartney says.

After that, he usually gets some makeup put on his face, then gets together with his band to do a quick warmup by running through “a bit of ‘Let It Be’ and a little bit of ‘Hey Jude.'”

Then, before hitting the stage, he and the band “come together and do a little confidence boost huddle!”

McCartney’s next show is this Saturday, June 4, in Syracuse, New York.

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Rascals singer/keyboardist Felix Cavaliere and The Monkees‘ Micky Dolenz will perform together this Friday in New York City and Saturday in Lynn, Massachusetts, the latest in a series of joint 2022 “Legends Live!” concerts featuring the two music greats.

“[A] Rascal and a Monkee, what do you think? Pretty weird,” Cavaliere comments to ABC Audio with a chuckle.

He then notes that, with people having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic during the last couple of years, the concerts’ organizers felt that the music of The Monkees and The Rascals were both “happy [and] uplifting,” and that “maybe [it was] time for people to…just enjoy themselves.”

The concerts feature Cavaliere and Dolenz performing with their respective solo bands, and alternating the headlining slot at each show.

The 79-year-old Cavaliere says one of his favorite things to do during his set is to throw in snippets of other artists’ famous tunes while playing some of his classic Rascals tunes.

“[F]or example, when I do ‘Groovin’,’ I pop in [a little bit of The Temptations‘] ‘My Girl,'” he explains. “And everybody goes, ‘Oh wow, I know that song.’ And I say, ‘Well, okay, if you know it, sing it.’ And then I put in ‘Just My Imagination.'” Same thing. I try to keep their attention and their memory cells active.”

Another highlight for Felix is the finale of his show, where he tells the audience, “Okay, this is your last chance to dance, get up and rock,” and then plays “Good Lovin’.”

Cavaliere and Dolenz also have a joint October 23 show scheduled in Phoenix, Arizona. Felix’s tour schedule also includes a series of concerts in Hawaii running from June 9 to June 12, as well as a July 16 show in Rochester, Michigan.

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It’s officially been 30 years since Mariah Carey dazzled on the MTV Unplugged stage and released her standout EP, and the hitmaker reflected Thursday on how important the pivotal moment was for her career. 

Sharing an Instagram video highlighting moments of her Unplugged set, where she belted out hits from her album Emotions, Mariah reflected on how much she’s changed since 1992.

“Happy anniversary to that girl on stage who was so nervous and scared to even sing in front of a crowd. Also she had no idea this last minute ‘unplugged’ show would become a ‘thing!'” she remarked.

Mariah also revealed how that performance changed the course of her career.

“During that performance, I remember having a breakthrough moment…the realization that all I needed to do was SING and actually CONNECT with the people in the audience and be in the moment with THEM!!! And then we were in it together,” she recalled.

The Grammy winner continued, “When I watch this now, it’s revelatory how many insanely talented musicians and singers I had the privilege of sharing that small stage with and I truly feel blessed. I am thankful to that majestic group of people who made that stage come to life and to the audience in the room for sharing what became a life changing experience for me and as always.”

“Thank you my fans for sharing this journey with me. You save my life each day,” she closed out the sentimental post.

Mariah’s MTV Unplugged EP sold over 4 million copies and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 200. It also spun off her hit duet with Trey Lorenz, “I’ll Be There,” which was a last-minute addition to her Unplugged set list.  Her cover of the Jackson 5 song earned her two Grammy nods.

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Bonnie Tyler and Stella McCartney are among the people who have been acknowledged in the 2022 edition of Queen Elizabeth II‘s annual Birthday Honours list, which recognizes “outstanding achievements” and service of people across the U.K.

Tyler, who is from Wales and whose birth name is Gaynor Hopkins, is also is known by her married name, Gaynor Sullivan. She was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire honor, or an MBE, for her services to music.

“I am truly honoured to be awarded an MBE and especially so in Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, which makes this even more special,” Bonnie wrote in a message posted on her official website. “This honour just goes to show that anyone from any background can become a success, and be recognised by our wonderful country, if they put their minds and efforts into what they do.”

She added, “I hope that my honour may in some small way motivate others to give their best … I’m just a girl from a small town in Wales who just loves to sing, so to be recognised for that in this way is very significant to me and my family and friends.”

The “Total Eclipse of the Heart” singer will help celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70-year reign, at a special concert this Saturday at Cardiff Castle in Cardiff, Wales.

Paul McCartney‘s daughter Stella, a successful fashion designer who also is known for promoting vegetarianism, was honored with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire award, or CBE. The CBE is a higher honor than an MBE, ranked just below a knighthood. Stella’s famous dad was knighted in 1997.

Check out the queen’s full 2022 Birthday Honours list online.

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The Rolling Stones kicked off their SIXTY tour in fine form last night with a two-hour show in front of a sold-out crowd of 53,000 at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

The Stones’ 19-song set included their first live performance of the 1966 gem “Out of Time.” The show also featured renditions of such classic as “Street Fighting Man,” “19th Nervous Breakdown,” “Tumblin’ Dice,” “Can’t Always Get What You Want,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Miss You,” “Start Me Up,” “Paint It Black,” “Sympathy for the Devil,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”

The British rock legends also played their most recent single, 2020’s “Living in a Ghost Town,” as well as their 1978 hit “Beast of Burden,” the latter of which was chosen by an online fan vote.

During the concert, the band celebrated guitarist Ronnie Wood‘s 75th birthday, singing “Happy Birthday” to Wood with help from the audience.

According to NME, the concert began with a video tribute to late Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died last August at age 80. Russia’s current invasion of Ukraine was also addressed, with footage of the war-torn country shown during the group’s performance of “Gimme Shelter.”

Meanwhile, as he’s done for many years, Wood is creating illustrated set lists for each concert The Stones play on tour, and limited-edition prints of the painted lists are available at his online art store. The set list for the Madrid show is available now, priced at $100.

The next concert on The Stones’ 60th anniversary European trek is scheduled for this Sunday, June 5, in Munich, Germany.

Here’s the full set list of the Madrid show:

“Street Fighting Man”
“19th Nervous Breakdown”
“Sad Sad Sad”
“Tumblin’ Dice”
“Out of Time”
“Beast of Burden” (vote)
“Can’t Always Get What You Want”
“Living in a Ghost Town”
“Honky Tonk Women”
“Happy”
“Slipping Away”
“Miss You”
“Midnight Rambler”
“Start Me Up”
“Paint It Black”
“Sympathy for the Devil”
“Jumpin’ Jack Flash”
“Gimme Shelter”
“(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”

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After photos showing Elton John in a wheelchair surfaced Wednesday, the legendary singer addressed them head-on in a lengthy Instagram post to assure fans he is in-tip top shape.

“I want to thank all my fans for reaching out to ask about my health, after the tabloids ran a silly story about [me] ‘looking frail’ in a wheelchair,” he started the post, which included several recent photos of him on his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour. 

“The true story is that I’m in top health, loving my shows and playing and singing at my very best,” he continued. “I give 100% every night and never want to disappoint, especially after everyone has waited so long to get back to seeing shows. Your response to every show has been phenomenal and I’m loving every minute of it.”

Sir Elton then addressed the paparazzi photos directly, explaining, “After another rousing 2.5 hour show, we arrived at Leipzig airport just before curfew, to find part of the airport had closed. It was an extremely long walk to get to the plane, so my team kindly laid on a wheelchair so I could rest my hip after doing the show. That’s all folks.”

The “Cold Heart” singer announced in September he had to postpone some of his 2021 Europe and U.K. tour stops to undergo hip surgery after a fall in the summer that caused him “considerable pain and discomfort.”  

Now that he’s on the road to recovery, Elton signed off his post on a positive note that assured fans, “Last night was another blockbuster show in Bern and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at this weekend’s sold-out show in Milan.” He also thanked his followers for “all your kind words of support!”

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