Classic Rock News

Getty ImagesHappy Birthday to Pete Townshend, who turns 78 today (May 19th)!!! Townshend, who is the primary creative force behind the Who, wrote nearly all of the band’s music and has been responsible for crafting the stories and themes behind such rock classics as Tommy, Who’s Next, and Quadrophenia. Back in March, Townshend released his…

Getty ImagesIt was 55 years ago this week in May 1968 that the Beatles began recording four-track demos for its self-titled double album, which is commonly known as the “White Album.” The legendary — and long-bootlegged — group demos were finally released in 2018 as part of the “White Album’s” super deluxe box set. The…

Getty ImagesIt was 45 years ago this Saturday (May 19th, 1978) that Paul McCartney & Wings hit Number One with “With A Little Luck.” The track was the former-Beatle’s sixth solo chart-topper and served as the lead single from his then-recent album, London Town. “With A Little Luck” knocked Yvonne Elliman’s Bee Gees-written “If I…

Getty ImagesIt was 35 years ago this Saturday (May 20th, 1988) that Van Halen released its eighth album — and second with Sammy Hagar — the four-week chart-topper, OU812. The set featured four Top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, the Top Five “When It’s Love” (#1 Mainstream Rock Tracks), “Black And Blue” (#34),…

Getty ImagesOut today (May 19th) is Graham Nash’s latest solo set, titled Now. The album, which marks Nash’s first new music since the death last January of estranged partner David Crosby, includes a new song written about Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young, titled “I Watched It All Come Down.” We caught up with Nash and…

Getty ImagesOut today (May 19th) is Paul Simon’s latest album, Seven Psalms. The 33-minute, seven-movement song cycle is intended to be listened to as one continuous piece. The entirely acoustic-based new set, which was produced by Simon and Kyle Crusham, includes choral elements from the noted British vocal ensemble VOCES8, as well as an appearance…

Getty Images’DRASTIC SYMPHONIES’ OUT TODAY Def Leppard is back today (May 19th) with its first sojourn into the classical field with Drastic Symphonies. The new collection features, “tracks dramatically reimagined by London’s iconic Royal Philharmonic Orchestra” — along with new vocals and instrumentation from the band. Frontman Joe Elliott said in the album’s official announcement,…

Getty ImagesIt was 38 years ago today (May 18th, 1985) that Simple Minds hit Number One with “Don’t You (Forget About Me).” The song, which knocked Madonna’s “Crazy For You” out of the top spot, stayed at Number One for one week until it was displaced by Wham’s third-straight chart-topper, “Everything She Wants.” “Don’t You…

Getty ImagesAlthough there’s rarely been a Who fan that’s walked away from a concert anything short of elated — for Pete Townshend, it really is just another day at the office. The Who leader revealed to Record Collector, “When I come offstage afterwards and people come up to me and say how it must’ve been…