About.com Classic Rock

On the Road in 2010

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:27:05 +0000

There will be a Faces reunion tour in 2010, but Rod Stewart won't be part of it, according to a Billboard report. Says keyboardist Ian McLagan, "If we don't do it very soon, one of us is gonna check out. We've been waiting and waiting for Rod to say yes; now he's finally said no. So we're gonna do it."

While Stewart tours in support of his latest solo album, McLagan, guitarist Ronnie Wood and drummer Kenney Jones will tour as Faces with an as-yet-unnamed vocalist.

If Faces happen to tour in the UK in April, they'll find themselves in good company: Bad Company. That band's surviving original members (Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke and Mick Ralphs) will play a handful of UK shows, according to Classic Rock magazine (who should know, since they are sponsoring the eight-city tour.)

Bad Company played a gig in Florida in 2008, but it was more legal exercise than reunion. The mini-tour will come a couple of months after the release of a live CD/DVD set in February.

^{Paul Rodgers photo by Jo Hale / Getty Images}

On the Road in 2010 originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 11:27:05.

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Have a Classic Rock Christmas

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:49:34 +0000

I enjoy the holidays for a lot of reasons, one of which is having the excuse to dig around for choice examples of Christmas music performed by classic rock artists. New to the list this year: Peter Cetera (ex-Chicago) and Bob Dylan, joining artists like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, and, yes, even Jimi Hendrix. There's nothing quite like Christmas music, classic rock style.

^{Image courtesy MCA Records}

Have a Classic Rock Christmas originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 15:49:34.

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Another Week, Another Rumor

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:01:02 +0000

The fallout from the Steven-Tyler-leaving-Aerosmith gossip having been largely disposed of, we can now turn our attention to the latest unconfirmed rumors that are being reported as fact.

It isn't at all unusual at this time of year for the identity of the next Super Bowl halftime performer to be leaked, ahead of an official announcement. What is unusual is the response to this year's leak.

No sooner had Sports Illustrated "reported" that The Who would entertain us in the middle of Super Bowl XLIV in Miami February 7 than the principals (the band and the NFL) started issuing non-denial denials.

From The Who: "Rumors circulating that The Who are going to play at the Superbowl in Miami in February are pure speculation."

From the NFL: "When we have something to announce, we'll announce it."

Notice that neither actually denies that The Who will perform. Rather, they seem to be suggesting that they'd prefer not having their thunder stolen by having the fact become known in a way that kills any drama that might attach to the eventual "official" announcement.

Given that Super Bowl halftime has, in recent years, become something of a classic rock enclave (Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones, Tom Petty) The Who would be a logical choice. And the high profile exposure certainly wouldn't hurt at a time when Pete Townsend is busy working on a new rock opera and Roger Daltrey is in the midst of a solo tour.

SI, attributing the tip to "a source" (hey, who needs journalistic integrity in a sports magazine, right?) set off a wave of "The Who will perform" headlines from the likes of Reuters (hey, who needs journalistic integrity in a news organization, right?)

I'll be very surprised if The Who don't perform at the Super Bowl. I'll be even more surprised if there's any lessening of the trend for rumor and gossip being touted as fact.

^{Photo by Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images}

Another Week, Another Rumor originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 06:01:02.

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Aerosmith's New Voice

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 06:04:16 +0000

I'm not one who is given to saying, "I told you so" but, well, I must say that I'm feeling a touch of vindication for my attempt to separate gossip from fact in the case of Aerosmith v. Steven Tyler.

Fact: Tyler is not leaving Aerosmith. Source: Tyler, who joined band mate Joe Perry on stage for a performance in New York City on Tuesday (11/10) night. The first words out of Tyler's mouth were, "I am not leaving Aerosmith."

Tyler's next words, reminding Perry (who just assumed Tyler was quitting based on his interpretation of something Tyler said to Classic Rock magazine) of Perry's own history: "You are a man of many colors," Tyler said, "but I am the [expletive deleted] rainbow!"

The moral of the story: always heed Edgar Allan Poe's admonition, "Believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see."

^{Photo of multicolored band mates Tyler and Perry by Kevin Winter / Getty Images}

Aerosmith's New Voice originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 06:04:16.

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Aerosmith: Fact is Stranger Than Fricton

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:23:26 +0000

Pardon me if I seem a little groggy. I'm nursing a figurative hangover from ingesting a barrage of breathless blogging about what the future of Aerosmith may or may not be in the wake of some recent comments from lead vocalist Steven Tyler. Even some otherwise credible news organizations have joined in the binge.

Surprisingly little of what is being reported about the latest episode in the rock soap opera starring Steven Tyler and his estranged band mates (his "brothers" as guitarist Joe Perry likes to call them) is based on anything other than conjecture about unverified assumptions.

Let's take, for example, how Perry is being identified as the source of the revelation that Tyler has quit the band. What Perry actually said was that all he knows is what he's read online, which is where he says he and his "brothers" learned of Tyler's wish (far from being an actual plan of action, and one he has expressed several times in the past) as conveyed in a recent interview: "I don't know what I'm doing yet, but it's definitely going to be something Steven Tyler - working on the brand of myself - Brand Tyler."

Significantly, the source of that quote, Classic Rock magazine, has responded to the ensuing flapdoodle by pointing out that "he in no way indicated that he was leaving the band, and just stated that he wanted to spend some time out to record a solo album and promote his forthcoming autobiography."

Let's pause to interject a couple more actual facts. This is the same Joe Perry who stormed off in 1979, leaving Aerosmith and vowing never to return. He returned. Aerosmith owes their record label one more studio album under their current contract. Do you really think the label would accept an album without Tyler as fulfillment of that requirement?

And then there are those who would have us believe that Aerosmith couldn't possibly go on without Tyler. Really? If you think that's true, I would refer you to the histories of Queen, Yes, AC/DC, Van Halen and Journey, all of whom have managed to soldier on with lead vocalists other than those with whom they started. (I would also refer you to a cogent piece by my About.com colleague and fellow rock scribe, Tim Grierson on this subject.)

Am I saying that Tyler is not leaving Aerosmith? Absolutely not. What I'm saying is that none of us, including Tyler (see the "I don't know what I'm doing yet" quote above) and other members of Aerosmith really know what's going on. All we really know is that Tyler isn't returning phone calls, and that's nothing new.

(UPDATE: Tyler is not leaving Aerosmith)

^{Photo by Kevin Winter / Getty Images}

Aerosmith: Fact is Stranger Than Fricton originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 07:23:26.

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November New Releases

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:13:01 +0000

Live performance DVDs and gift-worthy box sets from the likes of AC/DC, The Doors, Paul McCartney and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers dominate the schedule of upcoming new releases from classic rock artists. Here are new releases in November.

November New Releases originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 13:13:01.

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Down, Not Out

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:14:15 +0000

Elton John is recovering from a double whammy, described by his spokesman as "a bad case of flu and a minor case of E. coli." The artist has been forced to postpone concert dates in Europe and the U.S., but hopes to rejoin the Face2Face tour with Billy Joel later this month in California.

Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi is upbeat about his recovery after receiving treatment six weeks ago for a joint problem in his right hand. Out of an abundance of caution, Iommi is keeping his arm in a sling but says he is able to play guitar while he recovers.

Eric Clapton continues his recovery from the gall bladder surgery that knocked him out of performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame anniversary concert series last week. As he continues his recovery, Clapton's website proclaims that he remains committed to his 2010 concert schedule.

^{Elton John photo by Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images; Eric Clapton photo by Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images}

Down, Not Out originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 07:14:15.

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Rock Hall Rock

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:21:37 +0000

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame celebrated its 25th anniversary with two nights of concerts (October 29 & 30) at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

Featured performers, Rock Hall inductees all, included Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, U2, Crosby Stills & Nash, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Jeff Beck (filling in for an ailing Eric Clapton) and Metallica.

HBO will telecast the concerts on November 29. In the meantime, here are some photo highlights of the Rock Hall 25th anniversary concerts.

^{Bono, Fergie, Mick Jagger photo by Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images}

Rock Hall Rock originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 07:21:37.

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Classic Rock Ghost Stories

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:00:26 +0000

What with the mind-altering drugs, devotees of the occult, and all those creative imaginations, classic rock was a great breeding ground for tales that just might be true (at least partially) and thus make for some great ghost stories -- the kind that just beg to be told when you're getting into the Halloween spirit.

Classic Rock Ghost Stories originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 10:00:26.

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How Do You Do Halloween?

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:45:57 +0000

Native American spirits. Ringwraiths. Dark and misty houses. Satan, werewolves, and a witch named Hattie. These are just a few of the dark (sometimes humorously so) themes that seem so appropriate at Halloween. Here's our annual survey of some of the creepiest classic rock songs.

How Do You Do Halloween? originally appeared on About.com Classic Rock on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 15:45:57.

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