OZZY, TOM MORELLO: An Honor, and a Hope for More
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello said it's one of the biggest honors of his life being the musical director for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's Back to the Beginning
concert in Birmingham, England on July 5th. Morello said in a recent interview in Chicago that "Heavy metal is the music that made me love music, and Black Sabbath is the band that invented heavy metal. So, when Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne asked me to be the musical director of what's going to be the last Black Sabbath show -- the last Ozzy Osbourne show in the soccer stadium that's like a half-block down from where Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, the bass player of Black Sabbath, grew up -- I was honored to do that." He added, "The show is gonna be about 10 hours long, but it's gonna be a salute to a genre that people all around the world love. You know, it's been the music that has really made me love music. I'm interested in a lot of different kinds of music now, but I never would have been interested in any kind of music had it not been for metal."
One of the people playing that day, Ozzy's longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde, hopes that the concert isn't his boss's last time on stage. Wylde told Guitar Interactive, "Hopefully Ozz has a blast, he sings great, and then Ozz says, ‘Alright Zakk, let’s fire this machine up again and let’s go out on the road. Hopefully that happens, you know. I mean, Ozz was singing a little bit of ‘Mama, I’m Coming Home’ when we did the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, he sounded great."
And since Ozzy has mobility issues, Wylde suggested "just put him on a throne and have it fly out over the audience, shoot out buckets of water and ham sandwiches and everything like that, make a spectacle out of it.”
METALLICA: VR Concert and EP Coming to Apple
Metallica have teamed up with Apple for a new virtual reality concert and EP. Metallica: An Apple Immersive Concert can be watched only using the Apple Vision Pro headset starting on Friday. It was filmed during September 29th, 2024 in Mexico City and features full performances of “Whiplash,” “One,” and “Enter Sandman." The songs featured from the film will be available as a new EP, Metallica Live from Mexico City, in Spatial Audio on Apple Music on Friday. Check out a teaser for the concert film on Instagram.
SAMMY HAGAR: Remembers Number-One Redhead
Sammy Hagar and his legions of "Redheads" are mourning the loss of John Pruner, the fan who nicknamed him "The Red Rocker." Sammy posted a tribute on his socials, writing, "In 1976 I had just released the red album (Sammy Hagar). I was playing one of my first concerts in Seattle, Washington supporting that record with the song 'Red' being the single. The next morning, I was checking out of the hotel and John stopped me and asked for an autograph on the newspaper review of the concert. He asked me to sign it 'The Red Rocker' [and] that was the beginning of being 'The Red Rocker.' "John became maybe the first Redhead before the fans became Redheads. He followed me around the country, showing up everywhere. I got to know him well. Later, at a birthday bash in Cabo, he showed me that he had paid to see over 100 shows! I said you will never pay to see me again and gave him the golden lifetime all access pass. That was well over 100 shows ago. "John's health has been failing him for well over a decade. But he still managed to make as many shows as he could in wheelchairs. I always made room for him on the side of the stage or wherever possible. Some of you might recall me giving him a shout out FaceTime from the stage when he would be in the hospital and couldn't make the shows. His friend Jon took care of him and made sure those things happened. God bless him for that. "Well, we lost the original number-one Redhead a couple nights ago. We will miss you John Pruner, and the show will go on without you. I know you wouldn't have it any other way. Rest in peace my friend and be sure to give Eddie [Van Halen] a big hug from me." Hagar will be back on stage April 27th at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.
Grateful Dead releases absolutely massive 60-disc boxed set
The Grateful Dead is marking its 60th anniversary with the release of a 60-disc box set titled “Enjoying the Ride,” featuring live performances from 1969 to 1994, including unreleased tracks. Curated by David Lemieux, the set captures the essence of the band's nomadic touring experience at iconic venues like Fillmore West and Madison Square Garden. The collection is priced at $599.98. The set also includes a condensed version titled “The Music Never Stopped” with a glimpse into the band's legendary live shows. Dead Heads will get to listen to 450 songs taken from 20 different concerts, including shows at Fillmore West, Fillmore East, Madison Square Garden, and Red Rocks Amphitheatre. 17 of the 20 concerts are presented in their entirety in the box set. The release date is set for May 30th and only six-thousand copies will be released. If 60 hours is too much Dead to handle, Grateful Dead will also release a six-LP/three-CD set called "The Music Never Stopped" on May 30th.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono documentary trailer contains footage of MSG benefit concert
The new documentary "One to One: John & Yoko" focuses on the 18-month period John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent in New York City's Greenwich Village in 1971 and '72. The film, set to open in IMAX theaters in the U.S. April 11th, features restored footage of Lennon's One to One concerts at Madison Square Garden in 1972. Directed by Kevin Macdonald, the documentary explores how Lennon and Ono transformed their approach to protest during their time in Greenwich Village, with unseen video and audio from Lennon's archives included. The trailer showcases candid moments of the couple in their apartment and around New York City, as well as clips from the concerts and interviews with Lennon and Ono.
Michael Schenker Announces "My Years With UFO" 2025 Tour
Michael Schenker has announced the U.S. dates for his tour supporting his album “My Years With UFO.” Schenker kicks off his tour on September 5th with a show in Orlando, Florida. From there he’ll hit cities including Annapolis, New York City, and Green Bay before wrapping things up on October 12th in Houston, Texas. Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow.
Check out the announcement on the right, the first ten tour dates below, and more info at Michael Schenker’s website michaelschenkerhimself.com.
·September 5 - Orlando, FL - Plaza Live
·September 6 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
·September 7 - Clearwater, FL - Capitol Theater
·September 9 - Hopewell, VA - Beacon Theater
·September 10- Warrendale, PA - Jergels
·September 12 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
·September 13 - Derry, NH - Tupelo Music Hall
·September 14 - Patchogue, NY - Patchogue Theater
·September 16 - Annapolis, MD - Ram’s Head Onstage
·September 17 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theater
Doobie Brothers Drop New Single From Upcoming Album
The Doobie Brothers have dropped their new single “Learn to Let Go,” off their upcoming album “Walk This Road.” The track was written by Michael McDonald and features McDonald, Pat Simmons, and Tom Johnston on vocals. "It's a song about what might be the hardest lesson we learn and one of the last things we do in this life," McDonald shares in a press release. “Walk This Road,” meanwhile, is due out on June 6th and features 10 new tracks, including “Walk This Road,” “Call Me” and “Lahaina.”
Billie Joe Armstrong Joining Oakland Ballers Ownership Group
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is joining the Oakland Ballers ownership group. The Ballers have opened a new community investment round that aims to raise two-million-dollars after several fans missed the first round in July 2024.Armstrong said "sports in the Bay Area have been transforming over the last couple of years," adding that "The Oakland Ballers and Oakland Roots and Soul represent everything" he loves and he's proud to be an investor in supporting this next generation of teams. Oakland Ballers co-founder Paul Freedman said they're delighted to have Armstrong join their ownership group.
BTO & NEIL YOUNG: Hometown Musical Honor
Following up on a report from earlier this week that Bachman-Turner Overdrive have recorded a new song comes the radio release of “60 Years Ago.” Featuring Randy Bachman, his son Tal Bachman, his daughter-in-law and Tal's wife KoKo Bachman, Fred Turner on vocals, and Neil Young providing the guitar solo, Randy says it's "our tribute to Winnipeg, the place where we grew up as teenagers in the '60s, a time when the city's music scene was exploding. It was the Liverpool of North America, a melting pot of incredible talents. Everyone I've talked to who spent time in Winnipeg and witnessed that musical explosion is excited to hear this song, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”
"60 Years Ago" will be available to stream or download on March 28th with proceeds going to The Bridge to Nowhere Charity Ride, produced in partnership by Brothers of the Fork and Hockey Helps the Homeless. Bachman is touring as BTO but is the only original member in the lineup. Fred Turner has retired, and two of Randy's younger brothers, Tim and Robbie, have passed away. Turner and guitarist Blair Thorton, who joined in 1974, have given their blessing for Randy to tour as BTO.
This is not Bachman's first musical tribute to Winnipeg to feature Neil Young. In 1992, Young sang and played guitar on "Prairie Town" off of Bachman's 1992 album, Any Town. The song also features a shout-out to Neil's band while he was living in Winnipeg, Neil and the Squires. And it features Margo Timmins from Cowboy Junkies. Bachman cut two versions of the song -- one fast, the other slow. Randy says "I wrote 'Prairie Town' about coming out of Winnipeg with Neil Young being there, and the formations of the early Guess Who. And it was written nostalgically and it was played like 'Old Man' or 'Heart of Gold.' [I] faxed the lyrics to Neil Young's roadie and he showed them to Neil and Neil wrote me a fax back saying 'I've got to play and sing on this.' And I hadn't dreamt of asking him to do it. He did it in an afternoon - both versions. Then as I was leaving he said 'I want to be in the videos of these', which I wasn't planning to shoot. So I went ahead to plan videos because I'm not an idiot to say, 'Sorry Neil, there's no videos. I can't use you."
ALICE COOPER: 50 Years of Nightmare
This week marks the 50th anniversary of Alice Cooper's album Welcome to My Nightmare. Released on March 11th, 1975, it was his first without Alice Cooper the band, which broke up in 1974. "It was a total gamble. I mean we had no idea if this was gonna work or not. [1973's album] Billion Dollar Babies was so big, and I wanted something bigger." In addition to the title track, the theatrical concept album, which takes you on a journey through the nightmares of a child named Steven, also includes "Only Women Bleed," "Department of Youth," and "Devil's Food," which features a monologue by the late actor Vincent Price. Welcome to My Nightmare peaked at number-five on the Billboard 200 and has been certified platinum for over a million in sales in the U.S.
IN OTHER NEWS
In case you missed Ringo Starr’s CBS special Monday night, Ringo & Friends at the Ryman, it’s streaming on Paramount+.
Chrissie Hynde and Susanna Hoffs have been added to The Music of Patti Smith tribute concert on March 26th at New York's Carnegie Hall. They join Michael Stipe and many others on the bill. The house band includes Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Benmont Tench
from Tom Petty's Heartbreakers, and Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan.
Neil Young has announced that his sister Astrid Young will open up his shows in Toronto August 17th and 19th, and Vancouver September 6th and 8th.
Guns n’ Roses will perform in India for the first time in 12 years when they visit Mumbai on May 17th.
Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett will celebrate the band’s 1974 album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, during his North American tour from October 4th in Ithaca, New York through November 22nd in Portland, Oregon. Genesis will release a 50th anniversary edition of the album, their last with Peter Gabriel, on June 13th.