Classic Rock News

Getty ImagesIt was 59 years ago today (January 31st, 1963), that the Beach Boys completed recording their first Top 10 hit, “Surfin’ U.S.A.” The group’s Brian Wilson lifted the tune from Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen,” and once again was inspired by his younger brother Dennis Wilson’s “live every moment as though it’s your last”…

PRPhotos.comJohn Mellencamp admitted he doesn’t look back longingly at any part of his life and career. The legendary singer/songwriter is receiving raves for his newly-released 24th album, Strictly A One-Eyed Jack, which features a trio of collaborations with Bruce Springsteen. Mellencamp spoke to GQ magazine and marked the difference of how he used to create…

PRPhotos.comDavid Lee Roth basically thinks there was Van Halen — and then. . . everything else. Metal Wani transcribed some of “Diamond Dave’s” recent chat on Las Vegas’ KKLZ, where he said, “Hair bands were the imitations of Van Halen. It is true. And spandex (was) what they came up with as something visual. I…

Getty ImagesThe Who’s long-awaited Keith Moon biopic, tentatively titled The Real Me, will begin filming in June, according to Variety. The film, which is being executive produced by Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, and the Who’s longtime manager Bill Curbishley, will be directed by Paul Whittington — best known for The Crown and White House Farm,…

Getty ImagesElvis Costello’s celebrated 1989 Spike album is set for a deluxe vinyl reissue on March 4th. The album, which first paired Costello and Paul McCartney, will be released for the first time as a double album set with the inclusion of the track “Cold Train Robbers.” The collection, now pressed on 180-gram audiophile vinyl,…

PRPhotos.comAlthough the days of crazy post-show parties was in the past anyway, Slash revealed that Guns N’ Roses’ Covid protocols on the road only strengthened the band’s musical connection. Ultimate Classic Rock ran a bit of Slash’s chat with Britain’s Daily Star, in which the guitarist remembered, “Onstage it was incredible — the audience had…

Getty ImagesPrior to heading across the Atlantic for his 11-city European tour, Lindsey Buckingham has just rolled out four warm-up gigs at home. The ousted-Fleetwood Mac leader will kick off his brief Stateside jaunt on April 22nd in Kent, Ohio — and over the next eight days will hit Ithaca, New York; Glenside, PA; and…

PRPhotos.comPolice guitarist Andy Summers finally revealed the financial stats of the band’s massive 2007/2008 globe-spanning reunion tour. The long-awaited reunion trek spanned 158 shows, playing to 921,000 paying customers, and earned the band a $297 million gross. In 2008, they released a two-CD / two DVD collection chronicling the jaunt called The Police: Certifiable. The…

Getty ImagesIt was 53 years ago Sunday (January 30th, 1969), that the Beatles performed for the last time in public, on the roof of their Apple headquarters building in London. For the better part of that January, the group had been filming their rehearsals for a planned comeback concert, before band politics forced them to…