Def Leppard’s sophomore album, ‘High ‘n’ Dry,’ celebrates its 40th anniversary this weekend

Mercury Records

Def Leppard‘s second album, High ‘n’ Dry, was released 40 years ago this Sunday, July 11.

The album helped establish the band in the U.S. in advance of its massive 1983 breakthrough, Pyromania, peaking at #38 on the Billboard 200.

The best-known song from High ‘n’ Dry is “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak,” which garnered the band a lot of attention in the States when a performance video for the tune went into heavy rotation on MTV.

The album also featured the song “Let It Go,” which reached #34 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Both “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak” and “Let It Go” were co-written by frontman Joe Elliott and guitarists Steve Clark and Pete Willis. Willis, who struggled with alcoholism, was fired from the group in 1982 and replaced by Phil Collen.

“‘Bringin’ On the Heartbreak’…when that came out on MTV, I think that kind of blew the doors off the place,” Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen tells ABC Audio. “If anything, that record really set up Pyromania perfect. And then…once Pyromania came out, you know, with MTV and everything that was going on at that time, I think that was a big reason for our success. But…I think that was probably one of the most important songs off of [High ‘n’ Dry].”

Allen adds that he also was a fan of the rocking “Let It Go,” which he says was “the closest we’ve ever got to sounding like AC/DC.”

A remix of “Bringin’ On the Heartbreak,” with new guitar parts by Collen replacing Willis’ original licks, was released in 1984, and made it to #61 on the Billboard Hot 100.

High ‘n’ Dry went on to sell over 2 million copies in the U.S.

Here’s the full High ‘n’ Dry track list:

“Let It Go”
“Another Hit and Run”
“High ‘n’ Dry (Saturday Night)”
“Bringin’ On the Heartbreak”
“Switch 625”
“You Got Me Runnin'”
“Lady Strange”
“On Through the Night”
“Mirror, Mirror (Look into My Eyes)”
“No No No”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Billie Eilish opens up about the downside of fame in creepy new single “NDA”

Darkroom/Interscope Records

Billie Eilish dropped her dark and moody new single “NDA” Friday, the fifth song off of her highly anticipated album Happier Than Ever.

Eilish, 19, doesn’t mince words about her thoughts regarding her diminishing privacy and, in the accompanying music video, uses chaotic imagery of cars racing up and down a roadway to symbolize her distress.

“NDA” is the Grammy winner’s way of venting about the negative aspects of fame and how it makes her wish she could “disappear.”

The gloomy song opens with Eilish reliving one of the most troubling moments of her life, where she dealt with a “stalker walkin’ up and down the street.”

“Did you think I’d show up in a limousine?/ No, had to save my money for security/ Got a stalker walkin’ up and down the street/ Says he’s Satan and he’d like to meet,” Eilish expresses in her opening lines, setting the overall tone for her vulnerable and unsettling single.

Other secrets Eilish divulges are how she “bought a secret house when I was 17” that she hasn’t partied in, which leads to her revealing she once invited over a “pretty boy” but made him sign an NDA before he left.

The young singer also admits she hates going outside and that she dreams of “switching to “a new career/ somewhere in Kaua’i where I can disappear.”  

The eerie music video, which Eilish says was filmed in one take, features her walking along a dark highway as numerous cars speed past and circle erratically around her.  In addition, a growing crowd of people walk behind her but vanish as soon as she turns around.

The music video ends with an exhausted Eilish knowingly staring into the camera.

Happier Than Ever is due out July 30, which is available for pre-save.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In passionate message, Madonna compares Britney Spears’ conservatorship to “slavery”

Joe Scarnici/WireImage

Madonna is speaking out about Britney Spears‘ controversial conservatorship, deeming it a “violation of human rights,” and likening it to “slavery.”

Taking to Instagram stories on Thursday, Madonna passionately defended her “Me Against the Music” collaborator. “Give this woman her life back,” she declared while sharing a photo of herself wearing a throwback Britney shirt. “Slavery was abolished so long ago! Death to the greedy patriarchy that has been doing this to women for centuries.”

The Queen of Pop continued, “This is a violation of human rights” and promised, “Britney we coming to get you out of jail!”

Madonna and Britney famously collaborated on the 2003 hit song “Me Against the Music,” which they performed at the MTV Video Music Awards — that was when Madonna infamously kissed both Britney and Christina Aguilera.

Christina previously spoke out against Britney’s conservatorship, calling it “the most depleting, devastating and demeaning thing imaginable.”

Numerous celebrities, such as Justin TimberlakeCher and Mariah Carey, have also come forward to support Britney following last month’s bombshell testimony, during which the “Toxic” singer asked to end her 13-year conservatorship.  She also leveled serious accusations against her conservators and members of her family.

“I am traumatized. I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry, it’s insane. And I’m depressed. I cry every day,” Britney said in her explosive 23-minute statement.

The next hearing is scheduled for July 14.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In passionate message, Madonna says Britney Spears’ conservatorship is a “violation of human rights”

Joe Scarnici/WireImage

Madonna is speaking out about Britney Spears‘ controversial conservatorship, deeming it a “violation of human rights.”

Taking to Instagram stories on Thursday, Madonna passionately defended her “Me Against the Music” collaborator. “Give this woman her life back,” she declared while sharing a photo of herself wearing a throwback Britney shirt. “Slavery was abolished so long ago! Death to the greedy patriarchy that has been doing this to women for centuries.”

The Queen of Pop continued, “This is a violation of human rights” and promised, “Britney we coming to get you out of jail!”

Madonna and Britney famously collaborated on the 2003 hit song “Me Against the Music,” which they performed at the MTV Video Music Awards — that was when Madonna infamously kissed both Britney and Christina Aguilera.

Christina previously spoke out against Britney’s conservatorship, calling it “the most depleting, devastating and demeaning thing imaginable.”

Numerous celebrities, such as Justin TimberlakeCher and Mariah Carey, have also come forward to support Britney following last month’s bombshell testimony, during which the “Toxic” singer asked to end her 13-year conservatorship.  She also leveled serious accusations against her conservators and members of her family.

“I am traumatized. I’m not happy. I can’t sleep. I’m so angry, it’s insane. And I’m depressed. I cry every day,” Britney said in her explosive 23-minute statement.

The next hearing is scheduled for July 14.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The lightning flash in the middle: AC/DC’s Bon Scott would’ve turned 75 today

Credit: Philip Morris

Late AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott would’ve celebrated his 75th birthday today.

Born Ronald Belford Scott on July 9, 1946, the rocker replaced original AC/DC vocalist Dave Evans in 1974, and sang with the future Rock & Roll Hall of Famers up until his tragic death in 1980 at age 33.

Scott’s tenure with AC/DC was among the band’s most prolific periods, having produced six albums in five years, including the classics High Voltage, Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap and Highway to Hell. His studio output was matched by a tenacious live presence, and he’s now considered to be among the greatest frontmen in rock history.

“Fond memories of our ‘lightning flash in the middle’ Bon, who would be 75 today,” says AC/DC guitarist Angus Young, referencing Scott’s assertion that he was represented by the lightning bolt in the middle of the band’s now-iconic logo.

Following Scott’s death, a distraught AC/DC considered calling it quits but ultimately decided to press on, and found a new singer in Brian Johnson. Their first album with Johnson was the instantly legendary Back in Black, which became one of the best-selling albums in history. Johnson remains AC/DC’s vocalist to this day.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Scott’s birth, his family has launched a dedicated website, BonScottOfficial.com, that includes testimonials, history, merchandise and more.

“This is an invitation for Bon’s fans and friends to gather and share their memories and observations of him and his music,” the Bon Scott Estate says. “His legacy lives in the hearts and minds of those who love him.”

Also in conjunction with Scott’s birthday, a Spotify playlist has premiered featuring all of his available recordings with AC/DC, as well as with such pre-AC/DC groups as The Valentines and Fraternity.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Chance the Rapper invites fans into his ‘Mad Coloring World’

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

The trailer for Chance the Rapper’s concert film, Mad Coloring World, arrives later today. It features footage from the Chicago-native’s 2016 Magnificent Coloring World Tour, including new footage, which was filmed at his House of Kicks production house.

“It’s a house that I use for my office space. It’s a lot of things, kind of like a literal…film house or production house where we produce events and produce commercials out of an office space,” Chance tells ABC Audio. “And that’s also kind of like a movie set because we shoot a lot of our promos, performances, commercials and things like that out of there.”

Chance says Mad Coloring World is “aesthetically connected” to his popular Coloring World mixtape, though some footage was filmed in 2017.

“I just didn’t release it because I didn’t really know…a lot about film or editing or just the back-end of distributing a movie,” he explains. “In this time during the pandemic, when I started to learn more stuff about how to put together a movie and how to release a piece and direction and mainly editing.”

“I was like, let’s try and track down all the files from that day and the set up of the concert and some new interviews and kind of make this movie out of this house,” Chance adds.

House of Kicks is also where Chance filmed the launch video for Starbucks’ Made-Ready campaign, inspired by the coffee company’s bottled and canned drinks. To celebrate, Chance kicked off a viral #MadeReadyDuet challenge, in partnership with Starbucks, inviting fans to duet with him to share their Made-Ready moment until July 11th. Three selected winners will receive a bottomless mini-fridge with one year supply of Starbucks drinks and a personalized shout-out from Chance.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

John Fogerty “really happy” CCR scored first #1 song on a ‘Billboard’ chart with “Have You Ever Seen the Rain”

Credit: Joel Selvin

Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s classic 1971 hit “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” is spending its second week at #1 on Billboard‘s Rock Digital Song Sales chart.

Amazingly, CCR had never had a song reach #1 on any Billboard chart before.

Founding Creedence frontman and main songwriter John Fogerty tells ABC Audio that he’s very pleased, and a bit baffled, by his old tune’s sudden chart resurgence.

“[I’m] not really sure how to react,” Fogerty admits. “I mean, a 50-year-old song becoming #1 is kind of astounding. You know, there’s no movie release or…no cataclysmic event to pin this to.”

He adds, “I guess people all at the same time started liking this song, and I’m really happy about it…I’m very happy that there is attention being given to the song. I’ve always thought it was certainly one of my best songs.”

“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” was featured on CCR’s next-to-last studio album, 1970’s Pendulum, and was released as a two-sided single with “Hey Tonight,” which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Fogerty recalls that when he wrote the song, tension between him and his band mates was leading CCR toward breaking up, even though the group was at the height of its success.

“The picture that I got in my head was…there can be a sunny day and yet rain is falling,” he explains to ABC Audio. “It’s a weird atmospheric event…caused by a cloud far away from your view, but yet the wind is carrying the rain from that cloud…over to where you’re standing…And that seemed to be kind of what was happening [figuratively with CCR].”

Pendulum was reissued as a 180-gram vinyl LP in February.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Play the game: Queen launches Alexa-activated interactive trivia challenge

Photography by Snowdon/© Queen Productions Ltd.

Queen fans can now take a crack at becoming a champion at a new interactive trivia game that focuses on the band’s music and history.

The Queen Trivia Challenge was created by Amazon in partnership with the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers as the latest interactive skill experience for the Alexa voice-activated search program.

While taking the challenge, fans will be able to discover some some surprising facts and insights into the legendary U.K. group.  The game features more than 400 questions, and includes audio clips of some of Queen’s biggest hits, as well as footage from documentaries and concerts. The video footage will be viewable on Alexa-enabled devices with screens.

To access the Queen Trivia Challenge on your device, visit Amazon.com.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Celebrate Beck’s birthday with new “Chemical” video

Credit: Peter Hapak

Today is Beck‘s 51st birthday, and to celebrate the occasion, the “Loser” artist has premiered a new video.

The clip accompanies Beck’s song “Chemical,” specifically the remix by DJ and producer Chloé Caillet. It stars model Stella Maxwell as we’re led through a hazy, neon-lit nighttime journey.

You can watch the video streaming now on YouTube.

The original “Chemical” appears on Beck’s latest album, 2019’s Hyperspace. The record also features the single “Saw Lightning.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Fender announces signature Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang guitar to celebrate 30th anniversary of ‘Nevermind’

Courtesy of Fender

Fender has announced the signature Kurt Cobain Jag-Stang guitar to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Nirvana‘s iconic 1991 album, Nevermind.

As its name suggests, the Jag-Stang is a combination of two popular Fender models: the Mustang and the Jaguar. Cobain used both guitars throughout his career before coming to Fender in 1993 to create the first Jag-Stang, featuring his favorite elements of both instruments.

The 2021 Jag-Stang replicates the specs of Cobain’s original model and comes in two colors: Fiesta Red and Sonic Blue. It’ll be available this October for $1,249.99.

For more info, visit Fender.com.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.