Classic Hits

Mick Jagger and Annie Lennox are two of the many stars who’ll take part in We for India, a three-hour virtual benefit show that’ll be broadcast on Facebook on India’s Independence Day, August 15.

The event is designed to encourage donors worldwide to give $3.5 million for post-COVID relief work in India, as well as preventative measures against the future spread of the pandemic.  All donations will go to GiveIndia, the country’s largest charity donation platform, to provide humanitarian aid and support the country’s medical infrastructure.

It’s not clear whether Jagger will simply be seen in a video message or if he’ll perform. Lennox will perform, alongside her daughter, Lola Lennox.  Others appearing include pop superstar Ed Sheeran, Nile Rodgers of CHIC, podcast host Jay Shetty and Oscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman, who created the music for Slumdog Millionaire. A host of Bollywood stars are also involved.

You can watch We for India Sunday, August 15 at 10 a.m. EDT via Facebook.com/Facebookappindia and Facebook.com/RelianceEnt.   The link to donate is live now.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, which was to have taken place this October, has been canceled due to a resurgence of COVID-19 in the area.

A statement on the festival’s website says, “As a result of the current exponential growth of new COVID cases in New Orleans and the region and the ongoing public health emergency, we must sadly announce that the 2021 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, scheduled to take place October 8–17, 2021, will not occur as planned.”

The event has now been rescheduled to April 29-May 8, 2022.  Ticket holders will be notified this week about refund and ticket rollover details.  All tickets for October 13 will be refunded automatically.

Among the acts who were set to play at the iconic event: Stevie Nicks, Dead & Company, The Beach Boys, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Buffett, The Isley Brothers, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Boz Scaggs, Randy Newman, Rickie Lee Jones, and The Rolling Stones, who were set to play October 13 as part of their fall tour.

The Stones were originally scheduled to perform at the event  in 2019, but had to cancel due to Mick Jagger’s emergency heart surgery.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Eric Clapton recently made headlines for blaming “the propaganda” for what he described as his “disastrous health experience” after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, for supporting Van Morrison‘s anti-lockdown stance, and then for subsequently declaring that he won’t perform at any concert that requires the audience to be vaccinated.  Well, count fellow British guitar hero Brian May as someone who thinks Clapton’s wrong.

Speaking to the U.K. paper The Independent, the Queen guitarist was asked to comment on musicians like Clapton and their vaccination comments.  “I love Eric Clapton, he’s my hero, but he has very different views from me in many ways,” May responds. “He’s a person who thinks it’s O.K. to shoot animals for fun, so we have our disagreements, but I would never stop respecting the man.”

As for people against the vaccine, May declares, “Anti-vax people, I’m sorry, I think they’re fruitcakes. There’s plenty of evidence to show that vaccination helps. On the whole they’ve been very safe. There’s always going to be some side effect in any drug you take, but to go around saying vaccines are a plot to kill you, I’m sorry, that goes in the fruitcake jar for me.”

May, who has a PhD in astrophysics, was also asked whether he’d like to buy a ticket to join billionaires like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk on one of their space missions.  May responds, “When it comes to one very rich guy putting himself into space — actually not into space, only about 60 miles high — I ask myself, ‘What is it really for?’”

He adds, “I saw this cartoon where somebody said, ‘We’ve got two billionaires competing to see who can get into space first. Wouldn’t it be nice if they competed on how quickly they could solve world hunger instead?’”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Fleetwood Mac‘s Christine McVie and Lindsey Buckingham are now reunited.  Well, at least their catalogs are.

According to Variety, McVie, who just turned 78, has just sold her 115-song catalog to Hipgnosis, a music company that’s made headlines in the past few years for spending billions to acquire pop and rock copyrights.  It includes the hits she’s written for Fleetwood Mac — a list that includes “Don’t Stop,” “Over My Head,” “Say You Love Me” and “You Make Loving Fun” — as well as the songs she wrote with her pre-Mac group, Chicken Shack, plus her solo material.

In January, ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham sold his publishing rights to Hipgnosis.  Stevie Nicks, meanwhile, sold a chunk of her catalog last year to a company called Primary Wave, while drummer Mick Fleetwood made a similar deal with BMG.

As Music Week points out, thanks to Hipgnosis’ deals with McVie and Buckingham, it now owns the rights to eight of the 11 songs on Rumours, seven of the 11 songs on the band’s 1975 self-titled album, 11 of the 16 songs on Greatest Hits, and 15 of 20 songs on Tusk.

In a statement, Merck Mercuriadis, the head of Hipgnosis said, “It’s wonderful for us to welcome Christine to the Hipgnosis Family and particularly wonderful to reunite her once again at Hipgnosis with Lindsey Buckingham.”

McVie added, “I am so excited to belong to the Hipgnosis family, and thrilled that you all regard my songs worthy of merit. I’d like to thank you all for your faith in me, and I’ll do all I can to continue this new relationship and help in any way I can!”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Jessica Springsteen, the daughter of Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa, rocked her first-ever Olympic Games over the weekend, taking home the silver medal for the U.S. Equestrian jumping team.

According to Entertainment Tonight, the Springsteen clan reacted with pure joy and triumph after Jessica’s Olympic victory.

“I FaceTimed them really quick,” the 29-year-old Springsteen said after collecting her medal. “They were all screaming, I don’t think we understood anything.”

This latest win now pushes Jessica to a new ranking.  Prior to competing, she was listed as 27th in the world; now, she ranks 14th.

“It was also super exciting,” the Olympian added, noting she dealt with some “jitters” before making her final run in Tokyo.  “My horse jumped it beautifully. And we really gave it our all out there.”

She competed alongside fellow Team USA members Kent Farrington, Laura Kraut and two-time gold medalist McLain Ward in a neck-and-neck race for first against Sweden.

The two countries faced against each other in a jump-off, with the Swedes eking out Team USA with a slightly better time of 122.90.  Team USA completed the jump-off with an overall time of 124.20.  Both managed the course with no penalties.

Despite taking home the silver, Team USA managed to make history: Not only does this mark Jessica’s first Olympic Games and medal, but teammate Laura Kraut, 55,  is now the oldest Olympic medalist.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Dennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, co-founder and saxophonist of Kool & the Gang, died “peacefully in his sleep” in New Jersey, the legendary funk band announced on Saturday.

Thomas was 70.  Further details about his death were not given.

“An original member of Kool & the Gang, Dennis was known as the quintessential cool cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes and hats, and his laid-back demeanor,” Kool & the Gang shared on its Instagram page. “A huge personality while also an extremely private person, Dennis was the alto saxophone player, flutist, percussionist as well as master of ceremonies at the band’s shows. Dennis’ prologue featured on the groups 1971 hit, ‘Who’s Gonna Take the Weight’ is legendary and an example of his showmanship.”

Thomas, the post continued, was Kool & the Gang’s “wardrobe stylist who made sure they always looked fresh.” In the act’s early days, he also “served as the ‘budget hawk,’ carrying the group’s earnings in a paper bag in the bell of his horn.”

Thomas, along with brothers Ronald Bell and Robert “Kool” Bell, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, George Brown and Charles Smith, formed the Jazziacs in 1964.  Five years later, they changed their name to Kool & the Gang and released their self-titled debut album that same year.

Since then, the band has earned a pair of Grammy Awards and racked up numerous hits, including “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie” and “Ladies Night.”

Thomas, who has appeared on every one of Kool & the Gang’s albums — including their upcoming 25th studio release, Perfect Union — last appeared on stage with the band during a July 4 concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Thomas’ death comes nearly a year after Ronald Bell’s passing last September at the age of 68.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Kool & the Gang (@koolandthegang)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Lynyrd Skynyrd has postponed four of their concerts because longtime guitarist Rickey Medlocke has tested positive for COVID-19.

In a note to fans, the band says their shows in Canton, OH; Jackson, MI; Atlanta, GA and Cullman AL will no longer go forward.  “Rickey is home resting and responding well to treatment. We will continue to update you on his condition,” the note adds.

The Atlanta show on August 13 has been rescheduled to October 23. No word yet on the other dates.

After the Alabama show, the next date on Skynyrd’s Big Wheels Keep on Turning tour is August 20 in Canandaigua, NY.  The tour is currently scheduled to wrap up November 19 in Bossier City, LA.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Lynyrd Skynyrd (@skynyrd)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Grateful Dead spinoff group Dead & Company are set to continue their long strange trip with a new U.S. tour that kicks off later this month, and the nugs.net concert-streaming service will be offering livestreams of all 18 of the band’s shows scheduled through September.

Streams of the concerts, spanning from an August 16 performance in Raleigh, North Carolina, through a September 18 show at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, will be available in the HD and 4K formats. Visit LiveDead.co for more information.

An interesting feature of the Dead & Company livestreams will be a virtual experience hosted by Grateful Dead experts Gary Lambert and David Gans, who will take part in a live conversation via Zoom during set breaks at each show.

Dead & Company features Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, as well as singer/guitarist John Mayer, ex-Allman Brothers Band bassist Oteil Burbridge, and RatDog keyboardist Jeff Chimenti.

The group’s 2021 tour is scheduled though an October 29-31 stand at Los Angles’ famed Hollywood Bowl.

Here’s a full list of shows that are available for livestream:

8/16 — Raleigh, NC, Coastal Credit Union Music Park
8/18 — Bristow, VA, Jiffy Lube Live
8/20 — New York, NY, Citi Field
8/21 — Philadelphia, PA, Citizens Bank Park
8/23 — Bethel, NY, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
8/25 — Darien, NY, Darien Lake Amphitheater
8/27 — Saratoga Springs, NY, Saratoga Performing Arts Center
8/28 — Hershey, PA, Hersheypark Stadium
9/2 — Mansfield, MA, Xfinity Center
9/3 — Mansfield, MA, Xfinity Center
9/5 — Hartford, CT, The Xfinity Theatre
9/7 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Blossom Music Center
9/10 — Clarkston, MI, DTE Energy Music Theatre
9/11 — Cincinnati, OH, Riverbend Music Center
9/13 — Maryland Heights, MO, Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/15 — Noblesville, IN, Ruoff Music Center
9/17 — Chicago, IL, Wrigley Field
9/18 — Chicago, IL, Wrigley Field

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Theatrical rocker Arthur Brown of The Crazy World of Arthur Brown is releasing an incendiary new version of his band’s classic 1968 hit, “Fire,” that’s available now as part of a limited-edition, seven-inch colored-vinyl single.

Brown recorded the updated rendition of “Fire” with Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice, Stooges guitarist James Williamson, veteran U.K. jazz-rock keyboardist Brian Auger, and Jürgen Engler of the German industrial-metal band Die Krupps.

The single can be purchased on either red or yellow vinyl. The track also is available as a digital download and for streaming.

The B-side of the disc features a new tune titled “Zombie Yelp,” which Brown originally released last October digitally and via streaming services.

The track also features Vanilla Fudge keyboardist Mark Stein and former Hawkwind bassist Alan Davey. Brown co-wrote the monster-themed song with Davey.

Meanwhile, a companion music video for Brown’s new version of “Fire” is streaming now at Cleopatra Records’ official YouTube channel. The clip features scenes from the 2017 horror film The Black Room.

Both “Fire” and “Zombie Yelp” also will be part of a star-studded new Arthur Brown album that’s due out in 2022.

Arthur says of the forthcoming project, “It’s a great pleasure being involved in making this high quality, imaginative piece of terror and fun.”

“Fire” originally peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the U.K. and Canadian singles charts.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The Doobie Brothers have unveiled plans to release a brand-new studio album called Liberté on October 1, and in advance of the record, the band has issued a self-titled digital EP featuring four of the new songs.

Liberté, which you can pre-order now on CD and digital formats, features 12 new original tunes by the group’s core members — Tom Johnston, Pat Simmons and John McFee — produced and co-written with John Shanks, who’s previously collaborated with Bon Jovi, Stevie Nicks and many others.

Liberté is The Doobie Brothers’ 15th full-length studio effort and their first album of new original tunes since 2010’s World Gone Crazy.

The EP, which features songs titled “Oh Mexico,” “Cannonball,” “Don’t Ya Mess with Me” and “Better Days,” is available now as a digital download and via streaming services.

Meanwhile, The Doobie Brothers, who were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year, are finally preparing to launch their 50th anniversary tour, which was postponed from 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As previously reported, the trek, which sees former singer/keyboardist Michael McDonald rejoining the group, kicks off August 22 in Des Moines, Iowa. The 2021 portion of the two-leg outing is mapped out through an October 29 concert in Allentown, Pennsylvania, while a second leg runs from a June 2, 2020, show in West Palm Beach, Florida, through a June 30 performance in London, Ontario, Canada.

Fans who purchased a ticket-album bundle for shows to the tour between December 2019 and November 2020 will receive a copy of the Liberté CD starting on September 17 of this year.

Here’s Liberté‘s full track list:

“Oh Mexico”*
“Better Days”*
“Don’t Ya Mess with Me”*
“Cannonball”*
“Wherever We Go”
“The American Dream”
“Shine”
“We Are More Than Love”
“Easy”
“Just Can’t Do This Alone”
“Good Thang”
“Amen Old Friend”

* = also appears on The Doobie Brothers EP.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.