Category Archives: Classic Hits/Oldies

Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies

Robert Smith finishing The Cure’s new album while in quarantine

Rick Kern/WireImageRobert Smith has been quite productive while in quarantine.

In an interview with BBC Radio 6 Music, The Cure frontman reveals he's spent his time in lockdown finishing the band's long-awaited new album, the follow-up to 2008's 4:13 Dream.

"It's actually benefited me because there have been no other distractions," Smith says of life in quarantine. "So I've actually got a lot of what I wanted to do done."

In addition to the new Cure record, Smith says he's also been working on a new solo album and a film about the history of the band.

While you wait for new Cure material, you can hear Smith featured on the new Gorillaz song, "Strange Timez."

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Classic Rock

U2 announces 20th anniversary ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ reissue

Island Records/Interscope/UMeU2 has announced an expanded reissue of the band's 2000 album All That You Can't Leave Behind to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The collection will be available in various formats on October 30 -- 20 years to the day All That You Can't Leave Behind was first released.

The most basic edition includes simply the original album remastered, as well as the bonus track "The Ground Beneath Her Feet," while the deluxe, five-CD and 11-LP versions feature various B-sides, outtakes, live tracks, alternate versions and remixes, plus a 20-page booklet, a poster and a 32-page hardcover book of previously unseen photos.

You can listen to a remastered, acoustic version of "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" streaming now on YouTube.

Released October 30, 2000, All That You Can't Leave Behind marked U2's return to more straightforward rock after a decade of experimenting with dance and electronic music throughout the '90s with Achtung Baby, Zooropa and Pop. It produced hit singles in "Beautiful Day," "Elevation," "Walk On" and "Stuck in a Moment," won numerous Grammys, and has been certified four-times platinum.

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies

New Order premieres new song, “Be a Rebel”

Mute

New Order has premiered a new song called "Be a Rebel."

The track is the first fresh tune from the seminal synth-pop group since 2015, when they released their latest album, Music Complete.

"In tough times we wanted to reach out with a new song," says lead vocalist Bernard Sumner. "We can't play live for a while, but music is still something we can all share together. We hope you enjoy it… until we meet again."

You can download "Be a Rebel" now via digital outlets.

New Order does plan to return to the road next year for a North American tour with Pet Shop Boys. The outing was originally scheduled to kick off this month, but was postponed until September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Classic Rock

“Mr. Brightside” meets “Honky Tonk Women”: The Rolling Stones tease collaboration with The Killers

UMeThe Rolling Stones are linking up with The Killers for a new collaboration.

In a tweet Tuesday, the English rock legends teased an upcoming new version of their song "Scarlet," featuring the "Mr. Brightside" band. The track, which will also feature producer Jacques Lu Cont, is due out this Friday, August 28.

"Scarlet" is an archival Stones song from 1974 featuring Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page on guitar. It was finally released this past July, and will be included in the upcoming reissue of the 1973 Stones album Goats Head Soup, due out September 4.

The Stones previously teamed up with the indie rock group The War on Drugs for a remix of "Scarlet."

The Killers, meanwhile, just released their new album, Imploding the Mirage, last Friday.

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Classic Rock

Guns N’ Roses announces debut vinyl release of ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation

Geffen/UMe

Guns N' Roses' Greatest Hits compilation will be available on vinyl for the first time on September 25, and is available for pre-order now.

Originally released in 2004, the collection includes songs from GN'R's massive 1987 debut Appetite for Destruction through their 1993 covers album "The Spaghetti Incident?", plus the group's version of the Rolling Stones classic "Sympathy for the Devil," which was recorded for the Interview with the Vampire soundtrack.

The vinyl edition also will feature the 1986 song "Shadow of Your Love," which was released for the first time as part of the 2018 Appetite reissue box set. Three versions of the two-LP release will be available -- a standard black-vinyl edition, a colored-vinyl edition that's silver with red-and-white splatter, and a picture- disc version available exclusively from the band's official store.

The Greatest Hits compilation peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 and has gone on to be certified five-times platinum in the U.S.

Here's the Greatest Hits vinyl track list:

"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Sweet Child O' Mine"
"Shadow of Your Love"
"Patience"
"Paradise City"
"Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
"Civil War"
"You Could Be Mind"
"Don't Cry (Original Version)"
"November Rain"
"Live and Let Die"
"Yesterdays"
"Ain't It Fun"
"Since I Don't Have You"
"Sympathy for the Devil"

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Classic Rock

Guns N’ Roses announces rescheduled North American tour dates

Gary Miller/Getty ImagesGuns N' Roses has announced rescheduled dates for the band's North American tour.

The outing was originally scheduled to launch earlier this month, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will now kick off in July of 2021.

While the majority of original dates have been rescheduled, some of the stops on the planned itinerary have been canceled due to "routing and venue availability issues that developed during the postponement process."

"We thank everyone for their patience during this difficult time and look forward to performing for you all next year," GN'R says.

It hasn't been announced whether The Smashing Pumpkins, who were supposed to open for a selection of the 2020 dates, will be on the bill for the 2021 tour.

For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit GunsNRoses.com.

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Classic Rock

Watch U2’s Bono and The Edge perform Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven”

Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NARASU2's Bono and The Edge took part in a concert special called Songs from an Empty Room that aired Saturday on Irish TV and featured the duo playing an unlikely acoustic cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven."

The show raised money for people who work in the live-events industry, which has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The special featured various Irish artists performing at select empty venues around Ireland, while the U2 members contributed a pre-taped performance that apparently was shot at either Bono's or The Edge's home.

In the segment, Bono gives a shout-out to U2's Irish road crew, calling them the "best in the world," and then explains why he and The Edge decided to perform the Zeppelin classic on the special.

"There is one annoying aspect of Irish crew," the singer maintains. "Wherever you go in the world, whatever venue you're playing…you walk into the venue, it's a big moment, and you'll hear a song we said that we'll never, ever play…That's right, 'Stairway to Heaven.' These professionals believe they play this better than the band. And you know, it might be true."

As Bono tells his story, The Edge starts playing the song's opening. Bono then says, "Anyway, to honor Irish crew," and proceeds to singing a fairly faithful rendition of the rock anthem.

When he gets to the lyric "it makes me wonder," Bono stops singing and quips, "It makes me wonder…if they're not right."

The entire two-hour show can be viewed at RTE.ie.

Proceeds raised by Songs from an Empty Room benefit two charities -- Minding Creative Minds and the Association of Irish Stage Technicians Hardship Fund. For more details, visit SongsfromanEmptyRoom.com.

By Matt Friedlander
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Classic Rock

Axl Rose calls for US Surgeon General to resign in between “jamming” with Slash & Duff

Mark Horton/Getty ImagesA lot is apparently happening in the world of Axl Rose at the moment.

Over the holiday weekend, the Guns N' Roses frontman tweeted that United States Surgeon General Jerome Adams should resign.

"Jerome Adams is a: A coward b: A POS c: Both," Rose wrote. "Resign. U don't deserve the job or title. America deserves better."

Rose's tweet seemed to be in response to Adams' comments during an interview with NBC's Today, in which he said that "every single person has to make up their own mind" when asked whether it was advisable that people attend large gatherings for July 4, such as the events that President Donald Trump hosted at Mount Rushmore and in Washington, D.C.

Adams did also say that if you go to such a gathering, you should "wear a face covering." Neither of Trump's events required face masks.

In response to Rose's comments, Adams replied, "Hey Axl -- appreciate your passion (and your music). How about helping me save some lives by sharing the message about staying safe, and using face coverings?!"

While Rose didn't respond directly to Adams, he did issue a longer statement explaining why he feels it's important to speak out on political and social issues, and to not do so would make him "complicit" in what he sees as wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, in between all that, Rose is also jamming with his Guns N' Roses band mates. That's according to Slash, who revealed the news during an interview with instrument retailer Sweetwater.

"I've been jamming with [bassist] Duff [McKagan] and I've been jamming with Axl, and I've been doing stuff like that," the guitarist said. "So we've been getting some work done that way."

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies

Depeche Mode streaming ‘LiVE SPiRiTS’ concert film this week

Stefan Hoederath/RedfernsDepeche Mode is streaming the group's LiVE SPiRiTS concert film this week.

LiVE SPiRiTS includes the never-before-seen full footage from Depeche Mode's July 2018 shows in Berlin, which marked the final concerts the synth-pop trio played in support of their latest album, 2017's Spirit.

You can watch LiVE SPiRiTS live via the Live Nation YouTube channel this Thursday, June 25, at 3 p.m. ET.

LiVE SPiRiTS is also included alongside Depeche Mode's Spirits in the Forest documentary about those Berlin shows and the Spirit global tour. The multi-disc package was originally scheduled to be released in March, but was delayed to this Friday, June 26, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Josh Johnson
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Active Rock Alternative Rock Classic Hits/Oldies Classic Rock

Watch Paul McCartney play trumpet with Dave Grohl during online special benefiting famed New Orleans jazz band

Courtesy of Preservation HallPaul McCartney is among the music stars who performed during a virtual fundraising event for New Orleans' famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the Preservation Hall Foundation that streamed live Saturday, and can be watched now at the group's Facebook page.

McCartney showed off his trumpet skills and sang during a star-studded virtual rendition of the New Orleans anthem "When the Saints Go Marching In" that served as the finale of the event, dubbed 'Round Midnight Preserves. The performance also featured many other musicians who took part in the special, including Elvis Costello, Dave Grohl, Dave Matthews, Arcade Fire's Win Butler, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, legendary New Orleans soul singer Irma Thomas, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band's members.

The four-hour show, which was hosted by Preservation Hall Jazz Band creative director Ben Jaffe, featured live performances, new videos made specifically for the special, archival live performances by various artists collaborating with the Jazz Band, and interview segments.

Costello was interviewed by Jaffe and also played a solo acoustic version of his 2006 song "The River in Reverse." In addition, Elvis appeared in an archival clip performing with the Jazz Band at Preservation Hall.

Grohl was featured in several segments, including being interviewed about his experience recording with Foo Fighters at Preservation Hall, a video in which he performed the Preservation Hall Jazz Band original "Come with Me" virtually with the group, and a solo acoustic performance of Foo Fighters' "Best of You."

Other artists who appeared on the special, either in person or via archival clips, included Beck, Nathaniel Rateliff, Maroon 5's PJ Morton, and The Late Show band leader Jon Batiste.

Donations are being accepted at PresHallFoundation.org. An online auction also is being held to raise money for the band and the charity.

(Video includes sporadic profanity.)

By Matt Friedlander
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.