Classic Hits

In celebration of last month’s opening of the new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit “The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be,” the Cleveland museum is hosting a series of Beatles-themed events during the next few days.

The Fab Four festivities begin today at 5 p.m. ET with a Beatles-themed edition of the “Rock Hall Nights” series. In addition to offering a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibit, the event will feature an appearance by Let It Be engineer and famed producer Glyn Johns, who will sign copies of his memoir Sound Man from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Other attractions, events and activities include screenings of rare jams from Rock Hall induction ceremonies featuring Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and other rock superstars; Beatles trivia quizzes; a performance by a Beatles cover band; a look at the music that influenced the Fab Four; and more.

Thursday’s “Rock Hall Nights” event, which runs until 9 p.m., will be followed by the “Beatles Fan Weekend,” taking place on Friday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, April 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The fan weekend will feature many of the same activities and attractions offered on Thursday, including the Rock Hall performance screenings, the trivia quizzes, and the concert.

In addition, Beatles-themed drinks will be available at the café, and Beatles music will be played all day through speakers at the Rock Hall, along nearby East 9th St. and in downtown Cleveland.

As previously reported, “The Beatles: Get Back to Let It Be” is an immersive exhibit that offers an in-depth look at the 1969 sessions that yielded the Let It Be album, and at the band’s famous London rooftop concert.

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The Clash will mark the 40th anniversary of the band’s classic 1982 album Combat Rock with a special expanded reissue titled Combat Rock/The People’s Hall that will be released on May 20.

The People’s Hall is a 12-track collection compiled by The Clash featuring recordings made at the same time as the Combat Rock sessions in a London building called The People’s Hall located in an area of the city given the name of the Republic of Frestonia, where some residents had attempted to secede from the U.K. in 1977.

Released on May 14, 1982, Combat Rock was the final Clash album by the group’s classic lineup of Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon and Topper Headon, and the band’s most successful studio effort. The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and featured the singles “Rock the Casbah” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” as well as such gems as “Know Your Rights” and “Straight to Hell.”

The People’s Hall includes unheard, rare and early versions of songs, among them an alternate version of “Know Your Rights,” the previously unreleased instrumental “He Who Dares or Is Tired,” and the outtakes “The Fulham Connection” and “Idle in Kangaroo Court.”

Coinciding with the announcement of the reissue, two previously unreleased versions of two Combat Rock songs featuring The Clash collaborating with late English Beat and General Public member Ranking Roger — “Rock the Casbah” and “Red Angel Dragnet” — have been made available as a digital EP, while a limited-edition vinyl EP featuring the tracks will be issued on May 20.

Combat Rock/The People’s Hall, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available as a two-CD set, a three-LP collection and via digital formats.

Here’s the CD track list:

CD 1: Combat Rock

“Know Your Rights”
“Car Jamming”
“Should I Stay or Should I Go”
“Rock the Casbah”
“Red Angel Dragnet”
“Straight to Hell”
“Overpowered by Funk”
“Atom Tan”
“Sean Flynn”
“Ghetto Defendant”
“Inoculated City”
“Death Is a Star”

CD 2: The People’s Hall

“Outside Bonds”
“Radio Clash”
“Futura 2000”
“First Night Back in London”
“Radio One” — Mikey Dread
“He Who Dares or Is Tired”*
“Long Time Jerk”
“The Fulham Connection” (aka “The Beautiful People Are Ugly Too”)
“Midnight to Stevens”
“Sean Flyn”
“Idle in Kangaroo Court”
“Know Your Rights”*

* = previously unreleased

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The Animals‘ long-out-of-print first four U.S. studio albums — their 1964 self-titled debut, 1965’s The Animals on Tour and Animal Tracks, and 1966’s Animalization — will be released as 180-gram vinyl LPs and expanded CDs on May 20.

In addition, a vinyl bundle will be issued the same day, titled The Animals Mickie Most Years and More, featuring the four LPs, plus a 12-inch vinyl reproduction of the group’s 1963 four-song EP, I Just Wanna Make Love to You.

The Animals’ debut album launched the Newcastle, U.K., band into stardom, thanks to the group’s hit cover of “The House of the Rising Sun,” which topped the U.S. and U.K. singles charts. The album itself peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200.

The Animals on Tour included “I’m Crying,” which reached #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. Animal Tracks boasted three top-40 hits — “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood,” “Bring It On Home to Me” and “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” Animalization also featured a trio of top-40 singles — “Inside-Looking Out,” “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “See See Rider.”

All of the CD versions of the albums feature at least one bonus track dating from the time each record was recorded or released. The Animals includes an unedited version of the album track “Talkin’ ‘Bout You.” The Animals on Tour has three extra tracks, including a New Year’s spot from the band. Animal Tracks boasts five bonus tunes, among them the non-album hit “It’s My Life” and the single version of “We Gotta Get Out of This Place.” Animalization features three extra tracks, including stereo versions of “Don’t Bring Me Down” and “See See Rider.”

You can pre-order the vinyl reissues and the bundle now at ABKCO.com.

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Following the tragic 2016 death of Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey, his son Deacon stepped into his father’s footsteps, playing guitar and singing with them during live performances.  But after several years of being the “New Kid in Town,” Deacon is “Already Gone.”

In a Facebook post, Eagles co-founder Don Henley writes, “Deacon Frey has devoted the past 4½ years to carrying on his father’s legacy and, after some weeks of reflection, he now feels that it is time for him to forge his own path. We understand, completely, and we support him in whatever he wishes to pursue in the years ahead.”

Henley continues, “In the wake of his dad’s demise, Deacon, at age 24, did an extraordinary thing by stepping from relative anonymity into the very public world of his father’s long illustrious career. We are grateful to Deacon for his admirable efforts and we wish him well as he charts his future.”

“Deacon’s Eagles Family will always be here to surround him with love, support and goodwill, and he is always welcome to join us onstage at any future concerts, if he so desires,” Henley concludes. “We hope our fans will join us in wishing Deacon the very best as he moves into the next phase of his career.”

No word yet on whether Deacon will be replaced.  The Eagles will kick off the next leg of their tour April 19. 

In 2017, Henley said of the younger Frey, “It’s extraordinary what that young man has done…his first gig with us was at Dodger Stadium. He had done some gigs with his father — private parties, clubs, in front of maybe 200 people. To go from that to 55,000 people is extraordinary. I don’t know many people who could have done that without freaking out.”

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A new NFT collection featuring photos of various famous artists taken by legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower, as well as signed prints of the pics, will be up for bid via an online auction taking place Monday, May 16, at JuliensAuctions.com.

The sale, dubbed “FU Rock’n’Roll Portraits: Neil Zlozower Premier NFT Collection and Signed Prints,” will feature 45 one-of-a-kind NFTs boasting images of Jon Bon Jovi, Eddie Van Halen, Steven Tyler, Def Leppard‘s Joe Elliott, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash, Mötley Crüe, Joan Jett, Judas Priest‘s Rob Halford, KISS‘ Eric Singer, Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ Chad Smith, Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong, Poison‘s Bret Michaels, Ronnie James Dio and more. Every pic captures the famed rockers holding up their middle fingers to the camera.

Each lot will include a digital version of the photo as an NFT minted on the Ethereum blockchain that also will include audio narration from Zlozower, as well as a print of the pic signed by the photographer.

The auction will begin at 11 a.m. PT on May 16. Julien’s Auctions now accepts a variety of cryptocurrencies as payment. Visit JuliensLive.com to check out all of the lots.

Zlozower began his photography career over 40 years ago, and his images have appeared on the covers and/or in the pages of such popular magazines as Rolling Stone, Guitar Player, Metal Hammer and Guitar World.

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Bobby Rydell, the teen idol who scored a series of hits during the late 1950 and early ’60s, died Tuesday, April 5, at age 79.

The singer and actor, who was born Robert Ridarelli, passed away at a Philadelphia area hospital from complications of non-COVID-19-related pneumonia, according to a press release.

Rydell’s singing career was launched when he was discovered on the Philadelphia television talent show TV Teen Club. He scored his first hit single in 1959 with “Kissin’ Time,” which peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Over the next five years, Rydell reached the Hot 100’s top 20 over a dozen times, with hits including “We Got Love,” “Wild One,” “Swingin’ School,” “Volare,” “Good Time Baby,” “The Cha-Cha-Cha” and “Forget Him.”

In 1963, Bobby made his film debut in the hit movie musical Bye Bye Birdie, playing the love interest of Ann-Margret‘s character. He went on appear in many more films and TV shows over the course of his long career.

In 1978, Rydell’s name was immortalized when it was used as the moniker of the high school in the smash hit film Grease.

Beginning in 1985, Rydell teamed up with two other Philly-area singers from the teen idol era — Frankie Avalon and Fabian — as “The Golden Boys,” who frequently toured over the next decades.

Rydell survived a double organ transplant in 2012, and became an advocate for The Gift of Life, a charity that helps the families of people who have undergone organ transplants.

Bobby is survived by his wife, Linda J. Hoffman; his son, Robert Ridarelli; and his daughter, Jennifer Dulin; as well as five grandchildren. His family is encouraging people to become an organ donor in his memory and to donate to The Gift of Life.

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Founding Foreigner singer Lou Gramm is featured on a song titled “A Little Outside” on the upcoming self-titled debut album by Lips Turn Blue, a band featuring the members of veteran Upstate New York rock group DDrive.

DDrive was led by vocalist Phil Naro and guitarist Don Mancuso, who played with Gramm in the pre-Foreigner group Black Sheep and also is a former member of Lou’s solo band. Shortly after putting the finishing touches on what was intended to be DDrive’s latest album project, Naro died of cancer in May of 2021. The group then recruited a new singer named Iggy Marino and decided to rechristen itself Lips Turn Blue and release the album under that moniker.

The album will be released on May 4, a year and a day after Naro’s passing. The band is now planning to start booking tour dates in support of the record.

“We feel we have a great singer and fellow musician in place that the music touches and motivates,” says Mancuso. “We want to get this amazing music out there. It needs to be played to as many music fans as possible. After our period of mourning Phil’s loss, we now have the drive and experience to take this music on the road and finish our next album, which is already well in the works.”

Lips Turn Blue recently released its debut single, “Just Push,” as well as a companion music video, and has plans to issue two more advance tracks before the album arrives.

You can pre-order Lips Turn Blue now.

Meanwhile, Gramm has three performances lined up for 2022 — on May 21 in Lynn, Massachusetts, July 28 in Springfield, Missouri, and August 12 in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Visit LouGrammOfficial.com for more info.

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Guitarist Joe Messina, an original member of Motown’s famous collective of session musicians The Funk Brothers, died Monday, April 4, in Northville, Michigan, at age 93, the Detroit Free Press reports.

According to the newspaper, Messina passed away at his son Joel’s home after a 12-year battle with kidney disease.

Messina, who played with The Funk Brothers from 1959 until 1972, was featured on an impressive list of hits by artists including The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and many more.

During his Motown tenure, Messina was part of a three-guitar attack alongside Robert White and Eddie Willis at the Detroit record label’s Studio A.

A tribute posted on the Motown Museum’s Facebook page notes, “As he was a part of the label’s earliest days, Joe became one of the principal guitarists, whose talents helped to develop and shape the world-renowned Motown Sound.”

Messina decided to remain in the Detroit area when Motown relocated to Los Angles in 1972. He was featured prominently in the 2002 Funk Brothers documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown, and was one of 13 members of the collective to be honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.

The Funk Brothers also were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.

Joel Messina tells the Free Press that his father was proud but modest regarding his musical achievements with Motown.

“He never bragged about any of that,” says Joel.

Meanwhile, Motown arranger and Funk Brothers trombonist Paul Riser tells the newspaper, “[Joe] was the warmest human being — always a smile, always a good word, always a sunny disposition. He was anchored and assured, just a great spirit with music.”

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The Doobie Brothers, Crowded House and Alanis Morissette are are among the many artists set to play the 2022 Bourbon & Beyond festival, taking place September 15-18 in Louisville, Kentucky.

The Doobies — featuring the band’s 50th anniversary tour lineup, including Michael McDonald, Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons and John McFee — will headline the festival’s final day, along with Grammy-winning country star Chris Stapleton. Morissette will headline the fest’s first day alongside Jack White, while Crowded House will be part of the bill on September 17.

This year’s other headliners are Pearl Jam, Kings of Leon, Greta Van Fleet and Brandi Carlile. Other performers include longtime Tom Petty guitarist Mike Campbell and his solo group The Dirty Knobs, Jimmie Vaughan, Elle King, Robert Randolph Band, St. Vincent, Cold War Kids and more.

Billed as “The World’s Largest Bourbon & Music Festival,” the four-day event will showcase more than two dozen craft bourbons, and also will feature special culinary experiences and much more.

Tickets are on sale now. For the full lineup and all ticket info, visit BourbonandBeyond.com.

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Bob Dylan has won a lawsuit brought against him by the widow of Jacques Levy, who co-wrote seven songs on Dylan’s 1976 album Desire, seeking a portion of Bob’s lucrative catalog sale to Universal.

Billboard reports that a New York appeals court announced Tuesday that it had rejected a lawsuit Claudia Levy filed against Dylan, Universal Music Group and other parties last year alleging she was owed a $7.25 million stake in the $300 million catalog sale to Universal.

The court upheld a ruling by a trial judge in August 2021 that Jacques Levy had signed away his catalog rights to the songs long ago, noting that under a 1975 agreement, the compositions, “with all the copyrights, were to be Dylan’s ‘sole property.'”

The court added, “Nothing submitted by plaintiffs concerning music industry custom and practice supports a reading otherwise, or even suggests an ambiguity in the relevant contractual language.”

Among the songs Levy co-wrote with Dylan for Desire were the hit “Hurricane,” “Mozambique” and “Isis.”

Claudia Levy originally filed her lawsuit in January 2021, and after the trial judge rejected the case while characterizing Jacques’ 1975 deal with Dylan a work-for-hire-agreement. Claudia appealed the decision, claiming that her late husband was being written “out of Dylan’s history.”

This past January, Dylan described the attempted appeal of the lawsuit as an “opportunistic attempt” at an “unjustified windfall.”

According to Billboard, Levy can appeal the decision once more, in front of New York’s Court of Appeals, although the magazine notes that “such reversals are rare.”

Dylan attorney Orin Snyder tells Billboard, “Today’s decision puts the nail in the coffin of this opportunistic lawsuit. We are pleased the court has again rejected this sad attempt to profit off of Bob’s recent catalog sale.”

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