Category: Rock Daypop

Talking Heads joined forces with director Jonathan Demme for the groundbreaking concert film Stop Making Sense back in December 1983, filmed at three shows at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater.  Now to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the concerts filmed for Stop Making Sense, a newly restored 4K version of the film will return to theaters for a global theatrical run with A24.  You can check out a trailer – here.

In addition, a deluxe version of the soundtrack will be released that will now include the complete Stop Making Sense concert for the first time. Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition) will be available on August 18th as a limited edition 2 LP set and digitally along with a Dolby Atmos mix of the complete concert, mixed by Jerry Harrison and ET Thorngren, who also mixed the original release. Both versions will feature every song performed in the film, including two that have never been released on vinyl – Cities and Big Business/I Zimbra. The limited edition vinyl version features a 28-page booklet with previously unpublished photos along with new liner notes from all four band members –Tina Weymouth, David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison.

Said David Byrne: “We had done a live album before this, but coupled with the film, and with the improved mixes and sound quality, this record reached a whole new audience. As often happens, the songs got an added energy when we performed them live and were inspired by having an audience. In many ways, these versions are more exciting than the studio recordings, so maybe that’s why a lot of folks discovered us via this record.”

To pre-order Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition), head here.

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

The official soundtrack for the upcoming ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ film features a variety of classic songs from all-time greats in various genres.

The track list for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 includes an acoustic version of Radiohead‘s “Creep,” Beastie Boys‘ “No Sleep Til Brooklyn,” Bruce Springsteen‘s “Badlands,” Alice Cooper‘s “I’m Always Chasing Rainbow,” The Mowgli’s‘ “San Francisco” and Florence + the Machine‘s “Dog Days Are Over,” among other hits.

The third installment of the popular Marvel films stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan and Pom Klementieff, plus features Vin Diesel as Groot and Bradley Cooper as Rocket. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ hits theaters on May 5.

The collection of 17 songs is set for release on CD and Digital Download on May 3. The soundtrack will also be available on 12” 2LP vinyl on May 5 and will be followed by the cassette version on July 7.  Pre-order the ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’ – here.

Editorial credit: chingyunsong / Shutterstock.com

Eric Clapton shared that the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry have been added to the upcoming Jeff Beck Tribute concerts, taking place May 22 and 23 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Clapton posted on social media, “TRIBUTE TO JEFF BECK BY ERIC CLAPTON & FRIENDS ADDS RONNIE WOOD OF THE ORIGINAL JEFF BECK BAND AND JOE PERRY! The SOLD OUT concerts will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on the evenings of 22nd and 23rd May 2023 … The list of artists appearing will be finalised nearer the date of the performances, but artists who have already indicated their wish to be a part of the tribute to Jeff Beck, most of whom are expected to take part in both concerts, are: Doyle Bramhall, Eric Clapton, Gary Clark Jr, Johnny Depp, Billy F Gibbons, Imelda May, John McLaughlin, Joe Perry, Robert Randolph, Olivia Safe, Rod Stewart, Joss Stone, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Ronnie Wood”.

The two upcoming London shows are sold out. All proceeds from each will be donated to Folly Wildlife Rescue in Kent, U.K., in support of Beck’s dedication to environmental causes.

Editorial credit: ahmfaruk / Shutterstock.com

Greta Van Fleet has confirmed their third studio album, Starcatcher, will drop July 21st. Starcatcher is the follow-up to 2021’s The Battle At Garden’s Gate. 

The album’s first single “Meeting The Master” is available now, and the band notes: “‘Meeting The Master’ peers into an esoteric world heeded by the word of a wise teacher. Sung in the voice of a devout believer, and eventual group exclamation, the song details the love these fervent followers have for their teacher and their firm belief in his vision. It’s an exotic spiritual journey. A dark comedy that inevitably ends in chaos.”

Greta Van Fleet’s headlining shows were initially postponed and rescheduled after singer Josh Kiszka suffered a ruptured eardrum while performing in October. The rescheduled dates kick offed March 6 in Jacksonville, Florida, and wrapped on March 28 in Sacramento, California. The band is now gearing up to serve as support for select shows on Metallica’s 2023-2024 world tour. For more info, head to the band’s official website.

To pre-order Starcatcher, head here.

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

Foo Fighters will headline the opening night of a new Washington D.C. venue called the Atlantis on May 30. The club is described as “an intimate 450-capacity room opened by independent promoter I.M.P., which also owns and operates area venues the 9:30 Club and the Anthem and operates the Lincoln Theatre and Merriweather Post Pavilion.”

The venue will open with an impressive lineup including Maggie Rogers, Parliament Funkadelic, Yo La Tengo, Darius Rucker, Joan Jett, Tove Lo, Jeff Tweedy, Tank and the Bangas, Portugal. The Man, and Billy Idol, among others. The new club was accidentally announced by Grohl in September of 2021, when Foo Fighters played the re-opening night of the long-running 9:30 Club after being shutdown during the pandemic. Growl had said I.M.P. was going to open a new, smaller venue fashioned as a near replica of the original 9:30 Club, where he got his start.  The Atlantis opens on May 30th, 2023 – the anniversary of the 9:30 Club’s opening in 1980.

Tickets for the inaugural run of shows will be $44 each, non-transferrable, and will be sold via a lottery-style process. The Atlantis is utilizing Ticketmaster Request for the inaugural run of shows, which is open now at TheAtlantis.com.  Fans will learn next week if their ticket requests have been fulfilled. If a ticketholder is unable to make the show, a fan-to-fan face-value ticket exchange option will be available.

Editorial credit: Antonio Scorza / Shutterstock.com

Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx has responded to the lawsuit brought against the band by their former guitarist, Mick Mars. Mars — real name is Robert Alan Deal — is suing the band after he was forced to retire last October due to his ongoing struggle with Ankylosing spondylitis, a form of spinal arthritis. Mars claims, however, that the band kicked him out, and has cut his percentage of profits from 25% to 5%. Mars also accused Sixx of “gaslighting” him about his deteriorating guitar skills, alleging in return that the bassist didn’t “play a single note on bass” during a recent tour. He claimed that all of Sixx’s parts were pre-recorded. However, Mötley Crüe stated in a follow-up report that Mars quit after “struggling to remember chords, playing the wrong songs.” (their full statement can be found here.)

Mars didn’t hold back when discussing his former Crüe bandmates in a new interview with Variety, saying “I carried those bastards for years … Those guys have been hammering on me since ’87, trying to replace me. They haven’t been able to do that, because I’m the guitar player. I helped form this band. It’s my name I came up with [the Mötley Crüe moniker], my ideas, my money that I had from a backer to start this band … The thing that they keep pushing, for many years, is that I have a bad memory. And that’s full-blown, out-of-proportion crap. Around 2012, when they first started saying that my memory was bad and I didn’t remember the songs, I came home and saw all my doctors, because I keep myself together, because I’m an old bastard. They had all the 10th Street people there [from the band’s management] — probably about five or six people — (versus) all my doctors going: ‘There’s nothing wrong with him.’ And now they’re still playing that game with me … So, no, the truth is: I want to retire from touring because of my AS [Ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory, arthritic disease that causes vertebrae to fuse]. I don’t have a problem remembering the songs. I don’t have a problem with any of that stuff. But I do have a problem with them, constantly, the whole time, telling me that I lost my memory. No. Wrong. That’s wrong. Absolutely wrong … But my stupid body is telling me ‘No, don’t do that’ [stay on the road]. You know, I’m gonna be 72 years old, and I’ve been touring with these guys 41 years, helping build the brand, helping do this and that. And you’re served with papers and going, this is crazy. This is stupid. I mean, come on.”

In a tweet, Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx shot back at Mars’ accusations. Sixx responded to the Variety report via Twitter: “Sad day for us and we don’t deserve this considering how many years we’ve been propping him up-We still wish him the best and hope he find’s lawyers and managers who aren’t damaging him. We love you Mick -“

Editorial credit: landmarkmedia / Shutterstock.com

Lynyrd Skynyrd has announced the band’s future plans following the recent passing of the group’s last original founding member Gary Rossington. In a statement, the band says the current members – led by Johnny Van Zant, the group’s lead singer for the past 36 years – were unsure if they would continue following Gary’s untimely passing. After much discussion with the band, the families of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington, the band feels that continuing to perform live is in the best interest of the fans and everyone involved.

Said Rossington’s widow, Dale Rossington: “I recently lost my husband and partner of over 41 years. He was an amazing father, grandfather, brother and friend, but most importantly was a world class musician and songwriter. It’s been my honor and privilege to share the stage with him for all these years. His music touched so many millions of people around The World, and Gary was always the first to say how, ‘Skynyrd’s music is bigger than me or any one person.’ Gary made it known at every chance to express how timeless the music was, and it was always his goal to keep the music alive for his brothers because that was always their dream. He spent his entire life trying to carry on that dream for Ronnie, Allen, Steve and all the others over the years. While he was not able to physically be on stage with the current lineup over the last couple years, he supported them in every way. His dream will continue thanks to Johnny, Rickey and the rest of our band mates to continue to carry his legacy and music on for future generations.”

Said Johnny Van Zant: “Gary was not only my brother, bandmate and friend, I think he loved me as much as I loved him. We would do anything for each other. We laughed, we fell, we cried and made up, and shared the stage for the last 36 years. Gary, along with my brother Ronnie and Allen started this band and left us all a legacy of music that has stood the test of time, and crossed three generations of fans. The music they created, and the music we created, together since 1987, was always meant to be experienced LIVE. We have come together with the founding band member estates, and everyone involved, and feel the music should continue for everyone to love and enjoy. So we will continue to perform for the Skynyrd Nation.”

Editoria credit: Randy Miramontez / Shutterstock.com

Metallica’s All Within My Hands philanthropic foundation announced that it will be donating $150,000 (split between three separate organizations) to provide assistance and relief to areas affected by severe weather in the United States.

The first two organizations that will receive grants — Team Rubicon and Direct Relieve — are working together to help communities that are still recovering from multiple tornadoes that hit Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia on March 24.  Each organization will be granted $50,000 to aid in their relief. The third organization receiving a $50,000 grant is the Monterey County Storm Relief Fund, which will help those affected by severe winter storms in Monterey County, California.

Metallica said in an article published on their official website that in addition to announcing the grants, All Within My Hands is also using this as an opportunity to raise awareness of these three organizations, inviting others to learn more about their work and to help support their efforts if possible: “We greatly admire the many volunteers and first responders who selflessly dedicate their time and skills to assisting others when the need is greatest.”

Editorial credit: Maj.l / Shutterstock.com

Guns N’ Roses was confirmed as the sixth “mystery band” performing at the 2023 Power Trip Festival, also featuring AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne and Tool. The festival will take place October 6-8 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California.

Guns N’ Roses will be one of the opening night performers for Power Trip on Friday, Oct. 6 along with Iron Maiden. Saturday, Oct. 7 will feature AC/DC and Ozzy Osbourne sharing the concert stage, and the final day on Sunday, Oct. 8 will have Metallica and Tool closing out the weekend.

3-Day General Admission tickets start at $599 + fees, or turn the volume up with The Pit, Reserved Floor, Grandstand Seating options, and various VIP Packages. Details can be found at https://powertrip.live/

Ticket sales will begin on Thursday, April 6 at 10AM PT. You can register now for tickets and find out about the hotel and VIP packages at the Power Trip festival website.

Editorial credit: yakub88 / Shutterstock.com

Primus is recruiting Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor of Tool, as well as other special guests, for a benefit concert at The Belasco in L.A., taking place on April 17th.

Primus bandleader Les Claypool said along with the announcement: “Every now and again cancer steps into our world and pulverizes the lives of people that are dear to us. Such a thing happened a while back with our good friend Jimmy Hayward. Over the past couple years Jimmy has undergone many major surgeries to remove then reconstruct major damage from a cancer that invaded his bones. With a wife and two very young children at hand, Jimmy has shown incredible courage and tenacity in an unbelievably challenging time … It is at this time that we in Primus and some of Jimmy’s good friends in the music entertainment world have decided to give a ‘brother a hand’, and do a live performance in his honor and for the benefit of his family. Please come down and witness a one time collaboration music event in celebration of our good friend.”

Proceeds from the show will benefit Primus’ longtime friend director Jimmy Hayward (Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!) and his fight against cancer. Tickets are on sale now via primusville.com.

Primus, Tool members announce intimate LA benefit concert

Editorial credit: Brandon Nagy / Shutterstock.com