ERIC CLAPTON: "God" Is Turning 80
Eric Clapton celebrates a milestone birthday this Sunday when he turns 80. The three-time member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — with The Yardbirds, Cream and as a solo artist — was born Eric Patrick Clapton in Ripley, England on March 30th, 1945 and raised by his grandparents. He never knew his father and was a teenager when he learned that the woman he believed to be his sister was, in fact, his mother. He first came to prominence as a member of The Yardbirds before going on to play with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and then Cream with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. That was followed by Blind Faith with Steve Winwood and Ginger Baker, and then it was on to Derek and the Dominos before embarking on a solo career in 1970.
A recovering alcoholic and drug abuser, Clapton opened the Crossroads rehab facility on the Caribbean island of Antigua in the late '90s, and has done many charitable appearances to fund it. He is married for the second time, having said "I do" to American Melia McEnery in 2001. They have three daughters, and he has a fourth daughter from a previous relationship. Eric's four-year-old son Conor died in 1991 after falling out of a New York apartment window.
In 2004, Clapton was made Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. Still going strong, he starts a an eight-night residency at the Budokan in Tokyo on April 14th, followed by dates in England, Italy and France in May, and six in the U.S. in September.
FOREIGNER: Gramm Will Try to Keep it Real
Foreigner singer Kelly Hansen will not only sit out the band's Canadian tour in October and November, but also their Latin American dates, which start on April 28th in Mexico. He says, "Some issues have forced me to limit appearances outside of the U.S.A. this year, and this means, unfortunately, I will miss [our] South American run. However, our incredible bandmate Luis Maldonado has been recording some of our hits in Spanish and he will be handling most of the vocals along with [original Foreigner singer] Lou Gramm who will be guesting for those shows. I know they will smash it!" Gramm, who will be the only original member in the line-up, did two songs with the band this past March 15th in Clearwater, Florida. Taking Hansen's place in Canada is Geordie Brown, the male lead in the Canadian production of Juke Box Hero, The Musical.
In other Foreigner news, their 2009 three-disc set, Can’t Slow Down, has been certified gold by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Band founder, guitarist and principle songwriter Mick Jones says, "I am so thrilled that Foreigner has received this milestone recognition for an album that contained 12 entirely new songs from the current Foreigner. It is especially important to me since my stepson, Mark Ronson, produced ‘Fool For You Anyway’ for this record. His amazing talents as an artist, producer, and songwriter continue to make me so proud.” In addition to the 12 new songs, the set also includes a collection of remixes, and a live DVD.
AC/DC: Bringing Back the Dive Bar
AC/DC are bringing back their "dive bar" for the start of their North American Power Up tour.
Their High Voltage Dive Bar will set up at Machine Shop in Minneapolis on April 8th and 9th. The tour gets underway April 10th at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The dive bar will feature stage props from previous tours, exclusive merch, special vinyl releases and, of course, stuff to drink. The band did their first "dive bar" before playing Power Trip in October 2023 and brought the concept to a few cities on last year's European tour.
Bruce Springsteen And Flea Crush "Because The Night" At Patti Smith Tribute Concert
Wednesday night, the music world came together to honor an icon at "People Have The Power: A Celebration of Patti Smith" at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Names like Johnny Depp, Michael Stipe, Charlie Sexton and more performed Smith tunes throughout the event, but perhaps the highlight of the evening was Bruce Springsteen and Flea playing her most well-known song, "Because The Night," which the Boss co-wrote. As he took center stage, Bruce relayed about the song, "Patti gave me this big hit right here I'm about to sing. If I had sung this song it would not have been a hit. It needed her voice, and her incredible lyrics, so Patti I have to thank you so dearly for our one big hit together. Thank you darlin'." See Bruce Springsteen and Flea perform "Because The Night" now on YouTube.
KISS: What Exactly Will Happen in Vegas?
Here's what we know about KISS performing at the three-day KISS Army Storms Vegas event at the Virgin Hotel from November 14th to 16th. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons — along with "special guests" — will play at least one "unmasked" electric show in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the KISS Army fan club. This will be their first performance together since the final show of their End of the Road tour on December 2nd, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York. While there is no mention of Simmons and Stanley's last two hired hands taking part -- guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer -- a previous hired hand, guitarist
Bruce Kulick, will perform over the weekend. Simmons, Stanley and their manager Doc McGhee will also take part in a question-and-answer session. Tickets for KISS Army members go on sale this Friday at 10am ET. The general on-sale follows on April 7th at the same time.
For details go to KISSOnline.com.
The Two Songs Pete Townsend Says The Who "Nailed"
Pete Townsend sat down with "Rolling Stone" this week to talk about his career with The Who and outside of it. If you've ever wondered what Who songs the singer/guitarist is most proud of, you may not be surprised that it's iconic songs that he was primarily responsible for. Townsend name-checked two songs that were intended for the scrapped "Lifehouse" project: "Baba O'Riley" and "We Won't Get Fooled Again." "With songs like 'Won’t Get Fooled Again' and 'Baba O’Riley,' I f****** nailed it. There’s no question. And I gave that instrument away," he says, using those songs as the centerpiece of what is considered by many to be the band's greatest album, "Who's Next."
RUSH: Envy of One
Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson and his band Envy of None will release their second album this Friday. Stygian Wavz is the follow-up to their 2022 self-titled debut, and Lifeson tells us they were "more unified and more confident" in recording it. "We had a clearer idea of what we wanted to accomplish. We wanted to make a record that was a little more compact. There's lots of variety on the record. It's rocking at times. It's heavy, it's funky, and it's poignant and soft and hard and dark and bright. You know, all of those things. Really happy with it." While there are no plans to tour, Lifeson says they've been discussing doing some shows.
CARLOS SANTANA: He's a Swiftie
Carlos Santana releases his new album today (Friday). Titled Sentient, it contains 11 tracks, including collaborations with Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Miles Davis, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and others. Carlos said "It's a great honor and a great joy to be in a place where grace takes over and I'm invited by Michael Jackson and Smokey Robinson to participate in their songs, and with Miles Davis and Darryl from Run-D.M.C. You know, it's quite a collaboration of incredible artists, world class artists, so for me, I just feel like a child with a whole lot of inspiration and respect and honor to be with them." And, Carlos already has hit sites set on another collaboration as he'd like to record with Taylor Swift. "The songs that I want to do is a tribute to women. Like [Bob Marley's] 'No Woman, No Cry,' 'Just Like a Woman,' Bob Dylan, '(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,' Carole King. You know, songs like that because I feel that it's important to validate and celebrate the female side of God. You know, your mother, your sister, your daughter, you wife. Once you do that everything expands even more because without the woman we would not be here."
Until that is set in stone, Carlos and the Santana band will be on the road, starting their
Oneness tour April 16th in Highland, California.
BUSH: Songs of Mental Health
Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale says that many of the songs on their upcoming album I Beat Loneliness focus on mental health issues, which he admits wasn't possible to do when they started out. Rossdale tells Chile's SonarFM, "I think that it's such a relief that mental health is being given the attention [now] that it deserves. We have lots of problems with mental health from people of all ages, from young kids all the way through to grown men, grown women, adults. There's lots of problems and terrible, crazy suicide rates. I mean, you can't believe it how many people commit suicide and how often." He adds that beyond the album, the band hopes to help people with mental health issues. "We actually got a beautiful website where you go and...it gives you any country around the world [their] suicide helpline." I Beat Loneliness is due out later this year.
GUESS WHO: One Would Guess So
Last September, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings resolved their long-running dispute with former Guess Who bandmates Garry Peterson and Jim Kale over the use of the band's name. Though details of the settlement remain confidential, terms include acquisition of the “The Guess Who” trademark by Bachman and Cummings. So, this would lead one to believe that they would cash in and tour under that name. But late last year, Cummings told American Songwriter he wasn’t sure if he and Randy could agree on a plan to tour. Well, perhaps he didn't want to let the cat out of the bag because Bachman tells American Songwriter that they "have a plan for 2026 to be The Guess Who, where … we do a set list of about 30 hit songs, and it’s probably gonna be a two- or three-hour [Bruce] Springsteen kind of marathonic show. And we’re all geared to do that in 2026. It’ll be the unveiling of ‘The Guess Who are back.’”
Cummings is currently touring behind his latest album, A Few Good Moments, with a final show this Friday in Shipshewana, Indiana before starting up again on June 28th in Rama, Ontario, Canada for a handful of scattered dates in his homeland and the U.S.
Bachman is on tour as Bachman-Turner Overdrive without Fred Turner or any other previous members of the band. He starts a Canadian leg on April 1st in Victoria, British Columbia.
Rhino Announces 25th Anniversary Reissue Of Don Henley's "Inside Job"
Rhino has announced that a newly remastered 25th anniversary reissue of Don Henley's 2000 album "Inside Job" is on the way. Henley’s fourth solo album will be reissued in multiple configurations, including a 180g 2-LP, CD and digital versions. The "Inside Job" remaster will drop May 23, 25 years to the day since the initial release of the album. In advance of the album coming out, Rhino has released the remastered version of the album's first single, "Taking You Home."
ELTON & BRANDI: Cut CBS Special
Elton John and Brandi Carlile's CBS special is in the can. Cameras were rolling Wednesday night for An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile at the London Palladium as the two previewed songs off their first album together, Who Believes In Angels?, which will be out on April 4th. Backed by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, former Chili Pepper and current Pearl Jam touring member Josh Klinghoffer, and the album's producer Andrew Watt, they did a 15-song set that featured four songs off the album, including the title track. Brandi did two of her own -- "The Story" and "The Joke" -- Elton did seven, including "Your Song," "I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues" and "I'm Still Standing" -- and there were two covers -- Patsy Cline's "Crazy" (written by Willie Nelson), and "He'll Have to Go" by Jim Reeves.
In addition to the performance, they also sat for a Q&A with actor Dan Levy, who told them he was named after Elton’s song “Daniel.”
Among those in attendance were Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, and actors Jason Momoa, Sacha Baron Cohen and Lily James. An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile will premiere on CBS on Sunday, April 6th at 8pm ET as well as streaming on Paramount+. The night before, April 5th, you can catch them performing on Saturday Night Live on NBC.
Candid photos of John Lennon taken by one-time girlfriend on display in Houston this weekend
A photography exhibit in Houston showcases rare, intimate photos of John Lennon taken by his then-girlfriend, May Pang, between 1973 and 1975. The exhibit at Hooks – Epstein Galleries runs today (Friday) through Sunday and includes the last known photo of Lennon and Paul McCartney together, taken by Pang in 1974. Over three dozen candid photos of Lennon will be available for purchase, Pang will share stories of her time with Lennon during his "Lost Weekend" era. The exhibit highlights Lennon's productive period post-Beatles, including collaborations with rock legends and a positive personal life influenced by Pang. A documentary about their relationship, "The Lost Weekend - A Love Story," is available for streaming.
John Cafferty/Beaver Brown Band Releasing First Album In 37 Years
If you recognize the band, you know your "dark side."John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band are releasing their first album in nearly four decades. "Sound of Waves" is the name of the album and in a statement announcing its release, Cafferty calls the album "a celebration of a lifetime legacy as musicians and 50-plus years as a band." "On the Dark Side" from the "Eddie and the Cruisers" soundtrack hit the top ten in 1984. "Sound of Waves" is set to be released on April 10th. John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band are joining Rick Springfield this summer on the "I Want My 80s" tour, which kicks off on May 28th in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
BRUCE DICKINSON And Z2 Unleash 'The Mandrake Project: Year One '
Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson has announced a graphic novel collection, The Mandrake Project: Year One, which pays tribute to legendary English poet William Blake. The graphic novel includes the first four issues of the comic series and features ink mixed with dirt from Blake's grave site. Dickinson, a patron of the William Black Cottage Trust, aims to help restore the poet's cottage and create a center for Blake's legacy. The deluxe edition of the graphic novel includes extensive interviews, essays, and exclusive collector items, and pre-orders are available at the Z2 webstore. Dickinson will also embark on a North American solo tour this summer in support of The Mandrake Project.
IN OTHER NEWS
Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will pick up the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award at WhyHunger's Chapin Awards Gala on June 4th in New York City.
The Go-Go's have been rehearsing in Los Angeles for their upcoming tour, and drummer Gina Schock posted a photo with Slash, who dropped by to hang out.