Classic Hits

With 2021 in the record books, Heritage Auctions has announced that it raked in a record of its own: $1.4 billion in sales from everything from sports memorabilia to comic books to coins to music-related collectibles.

The 45-year-old institution revealed that among the year’s biggest sellers in the latter category were a collection of guitars belonging to Journey‘s Neal Schon, and a touring piano played by Elton John.

Schon’s guitar collection, which was auctioned in July, brought in a total of $4.2 million, and included 10 instruments that fetched six figures.

Among the more than 90 instruments that were sold was the 1977 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Black Solid Body model that Schon used to record many songs on Journey’s chart-topping 1981 album, Escape, including “Don’t Stop Believin’.” That guitar was purchased for $268,000, including fees.

Meanwhile, Elton’s touring piano, a Steinway grand that the pop-rock legend played on the road for about 20 years, fetched $915,000 at a July auction. Elton wrote a note in black marker on the piano’s gild-iron frame that reads, “Enjoy this as much as I have, Elton John.”

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Rick Astley is the man who launched 1,000 memes, thanks to his 1987 hit, “Never Gonna Give you Up.”  Now he will be known for something else — a Frito-Lay spokesperson.

Announced Tuesday, the British pop singer is teaming up with the chip maker to launch a campaign centered around New Year’s resolutions, titled “New Year, New You.”  Taking inspiration from his meme-worthy hit single, the campaign looks at what people want to give up in 2022, before giving them permission to indulge in the things they love.

The message challenges people to think about the intent behind their New Years resolutions and why giving up the things you love isn’t always the solution.  Frito-Lay and Rick argue that resolutions about getting healthy shouldn’t mean going cold turkey on your favorite snack, but instead looking into smarter options.

“No one should start a new year with a list of things they’re giving up, so I’ve partnered again with Frito-Lay to continue encouraging people to do more of what they love,” the singer said in a press release. “The point of Frito-Lay’s ‘New Year, New You’ campaign is that we can still enjoy the things we love while also making choices we feel good about. That doesn’t just have to be about snacking, either. It’s an idea that can resonate across all areas of our lives.”

Rick wants you to tell Frito-Lay what YOU love on NeverGonnaGiveItUp.com for a chance to win $1,000.  The deadline to enter is February 27.

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After canceling the first two shows of his nine-date Las Vegas residency at the House of Blues scheduled for New Year’s Eve and in January, David Lee Roth‘s entire run of performances at the venue has now been nixed.

According to a statement shared by the House of Blues with ABC Las Vegas affiliate KTNV a few days ago, the founding Van Halen frontman’s concerts on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day were canceled “[d]ue to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID and out of an abundance of caution for those working and attending the shows.” However, no reason for the cancellation of the remaining shows — scheduled for January 5, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 — has been announced.

The House of Blues website lists all of Roth’s upcoming gigs as canceled, and reports that refunds will be available “at point of purchase.” For more information, visit LiveNationEntertainment.com/ticketrefund.

For Roth’s part, he posted the image of a new painting on his official website and social media pages that includes the caption, “A funny thing happened on the way to Las Vegas…” The painting appears to be of a dirt road stretching out into a barren desert landscape.

As previously reported, Roth announced in an October 2021 interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the House of Blues shows would be his farewell performances.

“I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring,” Roth said in the interview.

According to KTNV, Nevada governor Steve Sisolak announced on Monday that the state has had an “alarming” surge of COVID-19 cases following the holidays. Last Thursday, the Southern Nevada region recorded its highest number of daily COVID-19 infections since the start of the pandemic in early 2020.

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2021 was tough for Bryan Adams: He got COVID-19 twice. Thankfully, he didn’t succumb to his illness. But the veteran star has considered how he’d like to be remembered — and it’s pretty unique.

The publication Ramp.space asked Bryan if he’d like to be remembered as a musician or as a photographer, which is his other passion. “I could [sic] care less if I’m remembered or not,” Adams responded. “In fact, if I woke up tomorrow and there was no trace of me on the internet, I’d be thrilled.”

But after that harsh response, the “Summer of ’69” rocker gave the question a bit more thought.

“I once did an interview with a Brazilian journalist who asked me if I knew how many kisses my songs were responsible for. I had never thought about that before,” Bryan mused. “He calculated that it would be in the billions. I really liked that. Imagine being responsible for a billion kisses!”

He went on to say that if he were to be remembered in that way, “That would be okay with me, because without love we are nothing.”

“So to be able to bring a little love into this world — that means everything to me,” he added.

Bryan’s new album, So Happy It Hurts, is out March 11. He’s already released three songs from it: the title track, “On the Road” and “Kick A**.”  While his New Year’s Eve show in Vancouver was canceled due to COVID-19, he hints that he might want to hit the road this year after doing a November 2021 mini-residency in Las Vegas.

On Instagram, Bryan wrote, “I wonder what 2022 will be like, because after the Vegas shows, the idea of touring got under my skin again. Looking forward to seeing you all.”

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Cher has teamed with a brand that’s almost as iconic as she is — M·A·C cosmetics — for its new campaign, “Challenge Accepted.” It invites users to put their makeup to the test, showing how it goes “above and beyond the call of beauty” — and then share the results by using the hashtag #macchallengeaccepted.

In a statement, Cher says, “I’ve been saying Challenge Accepted for a Millennium.” She adds, “I was always stubborn. Later, that stubbornness turned into my mantra…’I DON’T BELIEVE THE WORD ’NO.'”

“No matter what happened, I never gave up,” she continues. “I couldn’t let it matter what people thought. I took risks because…what else do you do? I was like a bumper car: when I hit a wall I just backed up and turned around.”

“I was always Cher but didn’t have the luxury of make-up at [age] four. Now I have M·A·C,” she adds on Instagram.

Rapper Saweetie is also part of the campaign. In a video — set to Cher’s 1979 disco hit “Take Me Home” — she asks the legendary star, “How did you do it?” To which Cher replies, “I’m like this lipstick. When I’m on, I’m on.”

At the end of the video, Cher says, “I love lasting forever.” Just like M·A·C makeup, presumably.

Cher and Saweetie bonded during the shoot: The former tells People, “I [had] never met her [before], but I saw a video, and I liked her essence. We got along really well. Now she comes to dinner!”

Cher also tells People that these days when she wants to get glam, she’ll go for “big eyelashes.” As for those who want to mimic her iconic looks, she advises, “I think a little bit less is more, because sometimes you can shoot for it and shoot past it.”

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Today marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. release of Yes‘ classic fourth studio album, Fragile.

Fragile was the U.K. prog-rock band’s highest-charting album on the Billboard 200, peaking at #4, and featured several of the group’s most enduring tunes, including “Roundabout,” “Long Distance Runaround” and “Heart of the Sunrise.”

“Roundabout,” of course, is widely considered the group’s signature song, and an edited version of the tune reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Yes’ second most successful single after 1983’s chart-topping “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”

Founding Yes frontman Jon Anderson, who co-wrote “Roundabout” with guitarist Steve Howe, recalls that the idea for the song came about as the band was driving in its tour van through Scotland. Anderson tells ABC Audio that the lyric “mountains come out of the sky” was inspired by the fact that “you couldn’t see the top of the mountains because the clouds were so low.”

He adds, “And then the lakes. You know, you come to Loch Lomond, and all that…energy of Scotland. That’s why if you listen to the solo, it’s a…like a Scottish reel.”

Fragile was the first Yes album to feature keyboard whiz Rick Wakeman, who replaced founding member Tony Kaye. Wakeman tells ABC Audio that he has fond memories of working on Fragile because he loved the collaborative way some of the album’s long pieces — such as “Heart of the Sunrise” and “South Side of the Sky” — were created.

“We used to spend one month, two months all together in a rehearsal room, throwing ideas at each other, and that’s how the music got put together,” Rick notes. “And it’s how…the best Yes music, in my mind, was always put together.”

Here’s the full Fragile track list:

Side One
“Roundabout”
“Cans and Brahms” (instrumental)
“We Have Heaven”
“South Side of the Sky”

Side Two
“Five Per Cent for Nothing” (instrumental)
“Long Distance Runaround”
“The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)”
“Mood for a Day” (instrumental)
“Heart of the Sunrise”

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Cheap Trick will head to the Las Vegas strip in late winter for a four-show residency at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod.

The power-pop legends are scheduled to perform at the complex’s intimate STRAT Theater on February 25 and 26, and March 4 and 5.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public this Thursday, January 6, at 10 a.m. PT at Tickets.TheStrat.com. Members of Cheap Trick’s Trick International fan club can purchase pre-sale tickets now, while members of The STRAT’s free True Rewards program will be able to buy pre-sale tickets starting Tuesday, January 4, at 10 a.m. PT.

In addition, VIP packages are available that will offer a chance to watch Cheap Trick’s private pre-concert soundcheck, a group photo with the band, exclusive Cheap Trick merchandise, a commemorative laminate and early entry into the venue.

“Can’t wait to finally get back out on the road with Cheap Trick,” says founding bassist Tom Petersson. “I hope to see you during our Las Vegas residency at The STRAT. Happy New Year!” Petersson missed most of the band’s 2021 shows after undergoing open-heart surgery last year.

Cheap Trick become the second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame act to schedule a residency at The Strat, following Sammy Hagar‘s “Sammy Hagar & Friends” shows this past October and November.

Prior to their Vegas residency, Cheap Trick will headline the RokIsland Fest 2022 in Key West, Florida, on January 15, and then will play a series of shows in the U.K. and mainland Europe in February.

The band’s ’22 itinerary also includes a Canadian tour opening for ZZ Top in April and May, and a support slot on Rod Stewart‘s lengthy U.S. summer trek. Visit CheapTrick.com for full details.

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Former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne will be a guest tonight on Late Night with Seth Myers, which airs at 12:35 a.m. ET/11:35 p.m. CT on NBC.

Byrne will be interviewed during the show. In addition, Brazilian drummer/percussionist Gustavo Di Dalva, who is a member of David’s backing group for his David Byrne’s American Utopia Broadway show, will be sitting in with Late Night‘s house band, The 8G Band, this week through Thursday, January 6.

Di Dalva, who has recorded with many acclaimed Brazilian musicians over the years, also is featured in the award-winning Spike Lee-directed 2020 film presentation of David Byrne’s American Utopia.

American Utopia currently is scheduled to run through April 3 at New York City’s at the St. James Theatre. The next performance takes place this Wednesday, January 5. Tickets are available now at AmericanUtopiaBroadway.com.

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The 64th annual Grammy Awards may be moving to a new date following a surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. The ceremony, which will be hosted by Trevor Noah, is scheduled to take place on January 31 at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.

Billboard reports that the Recording Academy is seriously considering postponing the show, with a source with direct knowledge telling the outlet it is “looking likely” it will happen.

Should the Academy move the date, this will mark the second year in a row the Grammy Awards had to change its schedule.  Last year, the ceremony was moved from January 31 to March 14 because of 2021’s winter surge in coronavirus cases.

It’s unknown when or if this year’s ceremony will also move to the spring; as of Monday afternoon, the Academy has not returned an ABC News request for comment.  Should the Grammy Awards be postponed this year, the Academy’s MusiCares gala and the Pre-Grammy Gala, which are respectively set for January 29 and 30th, will likely also be rescheduled.

Currently, federal data reports more than 100,000 people are hospitalized in the U.S. for COVID-19.  Johns Hopkins University reports that new, daily infections in the U.S. also reached an all-time high on Friday after 386,000 people tested positive for the virus.

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In case you missed it, Journey has shared a video of their two-song performance on ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest special on its social media pages.

The veteran rockers performed their classic hits “Any Way You Want It” and “Don’t Stop Believin'” live in New York City’s Times Square on Friday night at about 11:30 p.m. ET shortly before the ball dropped to ring in 2022.

Fans may have noticed that Journey drummer Deen Castronovo wasn’t performing with the band that night, and Castronovo revealed that was because he’d tested positive for COVID-19 before the event.

“Well yes it’s true! Tested positive for ‘The thing,'” Deen wrote on his Twitter feed. “I feel fine. Asymptomatic but the show must go on.” Castronovo also noted that Journey drum tech Steve Toomey was filling in for him at the Times Square gig.

Deen, whose substance-abuse issues were a factor in him being fired from Journey in 2015, subsequently worked on his sobriety and rejoined the band’s lineup in July of 2021.

He added in his message, “Hey at least I feel great and it wasn’t cuz I was high on drugs and alcohol right!! Love you all and stay safe out there!!”

Castrovono also posted a follow-up message on Twitter over the weekend that reads, “HAPPY NEW YEARS!! Sending you all peace, health & happiness! Thank you for all the well wishes and support! God bless you all! CYA out on the road with [Journey] in 2022!”

Journey’s Freedom Tour 2022, with opening act Billy Idol, kicks off on February 22 in Pittsburgh.

No one better to sing us into a NEW YEAR than @JourneyOfficial!
We’re still partying LIVE on ABC! 🎉 #RockinEve pic.twitter.com/swClUWKidW

— New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (@RockinEve) January 1, 2022

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