Classic Hits

Eric Clapton released a brand-new single on Friday titled “This Has Gotta Stop” that available now as a digital download and via streaming services.

The mid-tempo blues-rock shuffle finds Clapton apparently railing against his detractors, perhaps in response to the media backlash he’s received in recent months over his critical comments about AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine and his support of Van Morrison’s protests over the U.K. government’s policies restricting live music because of the pandemic.

“This has gotta stop/ Enough is enough/ I can’t take this B.S. any longer,” Clapton sings. “It’s gone far enough/ You want to claim my soul/ You’ll have to come and break down this door.”

An animated music video for the new song has also premiered at Clapton’s official YouTube channel. The clip includes imagery that appears to illustrate people being controlled and brainwashed by the media and politicians.

The video features such scenes as a sinister giant man with strings running from his fingers to small common-looking people walking beneath him, a bunch of people mesmerized by their mobile devices as they traveling down a series of escalators, and people with televisions instead of heads.

The clip also includes scenes illustrating environmental issues that are our planet is facing, including forest fires, flooding and pollution.

“This Has Gotta Stop” was written by Clapton, and produced by his longtime studio collaborator Simon Climie. Eric handles lead vocals and guitar, and is joined on the track by drummer Sonny Emery, bassist Nathan East and backing singer Sharon White. Strings on the track were arranged and conducted by Nick Ingman, and the strings were led by violinist Perry Montague-Mason.

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The music world is mourning one of its greats. Lee “Scratch” Perry, hailed for breaking boundaries for reggae and dub music during the ’60s and ’70s, has died at age 85.

The Jamaica Observer confirmed Perry’s passing, saying he died of an unspecified illness at Noel Holmes Hospital in his native Jamaica.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, mourned the legend on Twitter, writing, “My deep condolences to the family, friends, and fans of legendary record producer and singer, Rainford Hugh Perry OD, affectionately known as ‘Lee Scratch’ Perry.”

Perry, whose influential and innovative music style went beyond reggae and dub, is noted for altering a variety of music genres, such as hip hop and rock.  The singer also worked as a record producer and collaborated with acts such as Bob Marley & The Wailers, Beastie Boys, The Clash and many others.  His Black Ark studio also gained legendary status.

Perry was mourned by many in the music world, with Mike D of Beastie Boys writing, “We send the most love and respect we can to Lee Perry who passed today, to his family and loved ones and the many he influenced with his pioneering spirit and work. We are truly grateful to have been inspired by and collaborated with this true legend.”

Roots drummer Questlove also honored the late legend, writing, “Pure Innovation. Pure Imagination. This Man Was Plug Ins long before you studio cats today can simply press one button and instantly created sound chaos. Way before The Bomb Squad. The God Of Black Ark. the true Sound Journey. One of the most awe inspiring producer/engineers/visionaries.”

Living Colour tweeted Sunday, “We send love, light, respect, our condolences to the LEGENDARY Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and his family and fans worldwide! May his soul Rest In Peace!”

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Ex-Creedence Clearwater Revival drummer Doug “Cosmo” Clifford has just released an archival album called For All the Money in the World that he recorded in 1986 with then-Greg Kihn Band bassist/songwriter Steve Wright, who died in 2017.

Clifford tells ABC Audio that the project came about when Wright, who grew up in the same town, El Cerrito, California, looked him up and suggested they write together.

“[I]t was very easy and very productive, so we kept doing that,” Clifford recalls. “And then we decided…we’ve got material and have a formula for having more material and it’d be nice to have a band to put it out there.”

Cosmo says they enlisted various Bay Area musicians for the sessions, many of whom also played with the Greg Kihn Band around that time, including guitarists Joe Satriani, Greg Douglass and Jimmy Lyon, and keyboardist Pat Mosca.

Rounding things out was a talented singer named Keith England whom, Clifford notes, had “a great rock ‘n’ roll voice.”

For All the Money in the World is an 11-track collection that offers a mix of catchy pop and rock songs.

Clifford says he loves the title track because it features a shuffle beat, noting, “Shuffles are just…fun. You can’t help but move to a shuffle.”

Cosmo also reveals that he sent the album to Steve Miller, who singled out the driving rock tune “She Told Me So” as his favorite.

Clifford says Miller told him, “[Y]ou guys ripped the roof off the barn with [that song].'”

According to Cosmo, Clifford/Wright “had the components of…something pretty special,” but the album was shelved when Wright’s lack of interest in playing clubs brought the project “to a close.”

Thirty-five years later, the album finally has been released.

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War has been celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and as part of the festivities, a new animated video looking at the stories behind some of the funk/rock/soul group’s biggest hits has debuted at the band’s official YouTube channel.

The “Behind the Hits” clip features commentary by founding singer/keyboardist Lonnie Jordan and producer/songwriter Jerry Goldstein, who helped put the band together with its original lead singer, Eric Burdon of The Animals.

The video briefly touches on the band’s formation and also looks at such classic songs as “Slippin’ into Darkness,” “The World Is a Ghetto,” “The Cisco Kid,” “Don’t Let No One Get You Down,” “Low Riders” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” The clip also notes that War songs have been heard in a variety of movies and TV shows, including Cheech & Chong‘s Up in Smoke, Gone in 60 Seconds, Dazed and Confused, Lethal Weapon 4, Friday, The Simpsons, and Mayans M.C.

The “Behind the Hits” video arrives in advance of a new War compilation titled Greatest Hits 2.0 that’s scheduled to be released on October 29 as a two-CD set, a two-LP vinyl collection, digitally and via streaming services. The 24-track album is a career-spanning sequel to the band’s platinum-certified 1976 Greatest Hits retrospective. You can pre-order Greatest Hits 2.0 now.

War currently is on tour and has more than a dozen 2021 dates on its schedule. Visit War.com for more information.

Here’s the Greatest Hits 2.0 track list:

Disc 1
“Spill the Wine” — Eric Burdon & War
“Tobacco Road” — Eric Burdon & War
“All Day Music”
“Get Down”
“Slippin’ into Darkness”
“The World Is a Ghetto”
“The Cisco Kid”
“Gypsy Man”
“Me and Baby Brother”
“Why Can’t We Be Friends?”
“Don’t Let No One Get You Down”
“Heartbeat”

Disc 2
“Low Rider”
“So”
“Smile Happy”
“Summer”
“L.A. Sunshine”
“Galaxy”
“Youngblood (Livin’ in the Streets)”
“Good, Good Feelin'”
“Cinco de Mayo”
“You Got the Power”
“Outlaw”
“Peace Sign”

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The latest episode of Queen‘s weekly YouTube video series Queen The Greatest premiered today, and it features profile a profile of the band’s memorable hit 1981 duet with David Bowie, “Under Pressure.”

The installment tells the story of how the track came together using interview footage with Bowie; Queen members Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor; and producer Reinhold Mack.

The episode begins by explaining how after Queen had purchased Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland, the band was working on new music there in 1981 when engineer David Richards made an impromptu phone call to Bowie.

Bowie notes in an archival interview clip, “[Richards] knew that I was in town, and phoned me up and asked me if I’d…like to go down and see what was happening. So I went down and…suddenly you’re writing something together and it was totally spontaneous. It certainly wasn’t planned.”

Taylor remembers that the band and Bowie were drunk and jamming on “all sorts of old songs,” and then David said, “Look, hang on a minute, why don’t we write one of our own?”

A separate interview clips, Taylor, May and Mack recalled how Queen bassist John Deacon came up with the catchy bass riff that really got the track going.

Roger added that it was Bowie idea to put in various clicks and claps, and the track just grew from there.

“Under Pressure” was released in October of 1981 and became Queen’s second #1 hit in the U.K., after “Bohemian Rhapsody,” while peaking at #22 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100.

After Mercury’s death in 1991, Bowie famously teamed up with Eurythmics‘ Annie Lennox and Queen’s surviving members to perform “Under Pressure” at the historic 1992 tribute concert for Freddie at London’s Wembley Stadium.

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“If I Could Turn Back Time” has become one of Cher‘s signature songs — but not without some convincing from songwriter Diane Warren. 

Looking back on one of the many timeless hits she’s written, Diane recalls how she had to beg the icon to record the song, which became a worldwide hit and marked a resurgence in Cher’s career. 

“She hated it,” Diane shares with People. “I went to the studio and literally got on my knees and said, ‘I’ll pay for it. If you don’t like it, don’t use it.’ She agreed. I remember looking at her in the booth and the look on her face when she sang the opening line like, ‘You b****, you were right.'”

The multi-hit songwriter adds that she had a similar experience with Toni Braxton, who was initially hesitant to record “Un-Break My Heart.” The song turned into a multi-platinum hit and won Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 1997 Grammy Awards.

“She didn’t want to do the song. I told her, ‘You’re going to win a Grammy for this vocal,’ and she did. People should listen. I know what I’m talking about!” Diane expresses. 

After spending nearly four decades penning a multitude of hits, Diane is stepping into the spotlight with her debut album, The Cave Session Vol. 1, available now, featuring collaborations with Celine Dion, Carlos Santana, John Legend, Maren Morris and more.  

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Queen drummer Roger Taylor recently announced plans to release his first solo album in over eight years, Outsider, on October 1, and now the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has premiered the first single from the record, “We’re All Just Trying to Get By.”

The track features guest vocals by award-winning Scottish singer/songwriter KT Tunstall, and is available now as a digital download and via streaming services.

You also can check out a music video for the tune at Taylor’s official YouTube channel. The clip features footage of Roger in a recording studio singing and playing piano and slide guitar — but not the drums — and Tunstall singing her parts separately.

Taylor wrote the dreamy pop tune during the COVID-19 lockdown while reflecting on what ties all living things together.

“I tried to highlight the great things in life,” he explains. “It’s the simplest statement, really. It’s what every life force on Earth is doing: just trying to get by and proliferate and exist. That’s all we are trying to do, from plants to animals to humans, trying to survive…Also, of course, we are in the middle of a bloody pandemic.”

Regarding Tunstall’s participation in the recording, Roger notes, “The track was all finished, and it was suggested it might be nice if we got KT involved…I love what she did, I think it really adds to the track…She’s a very talented singer and musician, and it’s lovely to have her on the track.”

Adds Tunstall, “What a pleasure to work with such a brilliant writer and musical hero.”

Outsider, which can be pre-ordered now, is available on CD, as a vinyl LP and on cassette.

Taylor will promote the album on a U.K. solo tour in October.

Here’s Outsider‘s full track list:

“Tides”
“I Know, I Know, I Know”
“More Kicks”
“Absolutely Anything”
“Gangsters Are Running This World”
“We’re All Just Trying to Get By” — featuring KT Tunstall
“Gangsters Are Running This World” (Purple Version)
“Isolation”
“The Clapping Song”
“Outsider”
“Foreign Sand” (English Mix)
“Journey’s End”

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The Rolling Stones are planning to go through with their 2021 U.S. trek following the death of drummer Charlie Watts on Tuesday, according to the tour’s promoter.

“The Rolling Stones’ tour dates are moving ahead as planned,” the promoter, Concerts West, says in a statement, RollingStone.com reports.

The U.S. leg of the band’s No Filter Tour, which was rescheduled from 2020 after being postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is slated to get underway September 26 in St. Louis and is mapped out through a November 20 show in Austin, Texas. The trek features 12 dates, and tickets can be purchased at VividSeats.com.

Earlier this month, The Rolling Stones announced that Watts likely wouldn’t be joining them on the tour because he was recovering from an unspecified medical procedure. According to the announcement, Steve Jordan, who played drums on all of Keith Richards‘ solo albums, was picked by Charlie to “stand in” for him on the trek.

According to a statement from his spokesperson, Watts “passed away peacefully in a London hospital [on Tuesday] morning surrounded by his family.” He was 80.

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Mariah Carey takes the holidays very seriously and, with 120 days to go before the big day, she has further solidified her reputation as the Queen of Christmas by rolling out with an official holiday figurine.

The “Fantasy” singer teamed with toymaker Funko to roll out an Amazon exclusive “Diamond Glitter” figurine, which marries the outfits she wore for her iconic “All I Want for Christmas Is You” music video and the sparkly getup she wore for her Apple TV+ Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.

The fabulous figure shows Carey in a sparkling Santa jumpsuit, complete with silver snow boots, black Santa belt, and a shimmering fuzzy neckline and cuffs. Instead of a Santa hat, Carey’s hair is stylishly coiffed and dramatically swept over her left eye.

The four-inch statue is available for preorder now and ships December 10. It retails for $13.99.

This item may have been inspired by last year’s incident in which an unauthorized ornament that supposedly looked like the five-time Grammy winner was sold. After a fan showed off their new decoration on Twitter, Mariah hilariously replied, “This is… Not approved” and gently added, “But it’s the thought that counts” in parenthesis.

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KISS was forced to cancel its concert Thursday night in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, after Paul Stanley tested positive for COVID-19.

“Tonight’s KISS show at The Pavilion at Star Lake in Burgettstown, PA is unfortunately postponed due to Paul Stanley testing positive for COVID,” the band announced on its official website Thursday. “More information about show dates will be made available ASAP. Everyone on the entire tour, both band and crew, are fully vaccinated.”

The message continues, “The band and their crew have operated in a bubble independently to safeguard everyone as much as possible at each show and in between shows. The tour also has a COVID safety protocol officer on staff full-time that is ensuring everyone is closely following all CDC guidelines.”

Stanley also took to his personal Twitter page to squash rumors that the Kiss frontman was having heart problems, insisting, “PEOPLE!!! I am fine! I am not in ICU! My heart allows me to do 26 miles a day on my bike! I don’t know where this came from but it’s absolute nonsense.”

In addition, the venue issued a statement on Twitter assuring ticketholders that the concert will be rescheduled and that “[a]ll previously purchased tickets will be honored for the new date once announced.” Ticketholders will be updated directly by email.

This is the second concert KISS was forced to postpone since kicking off the 2021 leg of its End of the Road World Tour on August 18 in Mansfield, Massachusetts. The band postponed its August 22 show in Hartford, Connecticut, because of Hurricane Henri.

KISS’ farewell tour was launched in January 2019 and was originally scheduled to conclude in New York City on July 17, 2021, but is now expected to last well into 2022.

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