Category: Oldies News

ABC/CRAIG SJODIN2020 was a big year for Elton John: Even if he wasn’t able to tour, he won an Oscar, did a lot of online charity events, released his autobiography in paperback, put out his archival Jewel Box collection, and collaborated with artists ranging from Lady Gaga to British alt-rockers Gorillaz.  And 2021 will bring us even more Elton stuff. Orla Lee-Fisher, the EVP head of strategic marketing at Elton’s record label, tells Music Week that 2021 will be a big one for anniversaries of some of the legendary star’s…

Damien Hirst, Dog with Bone, 2017 © Damien Hirst and Science Ltd. All rights reserved, DACS 2021.Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and returning guitarist John Frusciante play together on a song that will be featured on The Problem of Leisure, an upcoming tribute album to late Gang of Four guitarist Andy Gill. The duo recorded a version of the influential U.K. post-punk band’s song “Not Great Men.” You can hear it when The Problem of Leisure is released on May 14. The Problem of Leisure also features a version…

Christopher Polk/Getty Images for NARASLongtime pals James Taylor and Carole King have been using their platforms for decades to support politicians, so it’s no surprise that they’re involved in the festivities leading up to Joe Biden‘s inauguration next week. Both singer/songwriters will perform at a concert called We the People, celebrating the impending swearing-in of the president-elect.  It’ll air this Sunday, January 17, ahead of January 20, Inauguration Day. A donation of as little as five bucks gets you a link to the concert; larger contributions get you cool merch.…

PRNewsfoto/HarperCollins Children’s BooksA new illustrated children’s book inspired by Cat Stevens‘ 1971 hit “Peace Train” will be published on May 11 in celebration of the uplifting song’s 50th anniversary. The Peace Train book features the song’s lyrics, which express hope for global peace and unity, accompanied by illustrations by bestselling author and illustrator Peter H. Reynolds. Following the words penned by Stevens, who’s now also known as Yusuf, the book invites readers to hop on the Peace Train as it travels around the world, picking up peace-loving passengers of all…

Credit: Amanda DemmeFleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood has sold all of his royalty interests in his band’s recordings outright to BMG. The deal encompasses more than 300 recordings, spanning from Fleetwood Mac’s third album, 1969’s Play On, to the present, and including such hits as “Dreams,” “The Chain,” “Don’t Stop,” “Go Your Own Way,” “Rhiannon,” “Landslide” and “Hold Me.” Fleetwood’s royalty interests in the band’s music recently became even more valuable thanks to the renewed interest in “Dreams.”  The popularity of a viral TikTok video featuring the tune helped to…

FOX via Getty ImagesLike many, Mariah Carey is looking forward to the day life returns to normal.  Until then, the “We Belong Together” singer says she is focusing on the positive things happening in her life. Speaking Wednesday on the Questlove Supreme podcast, Mariah revealed the upside of COVID-19 putting her career on pause. “Taking off work has really helped my voice,” confessed the diva. “Honestly, for me this whole year with COVID and everything, not having to sing for my supper and travel around and not get the right amount of sleep or…

Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice in 2005; Bill McCay/WireImageOriginal Vanilla Fudge bassist Tim Bogert, who also was a founding member of Cactus and the supergroup Beck, Bogert & Appice, died on Wednesday, January 13, after a battle with cancer at age 76. Carmine Appice, who played drums in all three of Bogert’s aforementioned bands, paid tribute to his “true friend” in a message on his Facebook page. “He was like a brother to me. He was my friend for over 50 years,” Appice writes. “Tim was a one of a…

Credit: Jeremy Danger Heart guitarist Nancy Wilson has been preparing her first solo studio album, which is tentatively scheduled for a March release. Wilson tells ABC Audio that the album will feature seven original songs and three covers, among them a rendition of Simon & Garfunkel‘s 1970 classic “The Boxer.” Nancy reveals that she decided to record a version of “The Boxer” because she performed the Paul Simon-penned tune during Heart’s 2019 Love Alive tour and it always got a great response from the audience. “[I]t was such a cool…

Aimee & John Oates; Credit: Karen SandersJohn Oates and his wife, Aimee, are helping to organize a virtual streaming concert event called Oates Song Fest 7908 that takes place March 20 and is scheduled to feature performances by a variety of music stars, including John, his Hall & Oates band mate Daryl Hall, The Grateful Dead‘s Bob Weir, Sammy Hagar, and Dave Grohl. The show, which will be hosted by nugs.tv, will be streamed for free on various internet platforms. During the event, viewers will be encouraged to donate to…

Courtesy of Skyville LiveEpisodes of the star-studded concert series Skyville Live, which originally aired on various platforms from 2015 through 2017, will air on CMT throughout 2021. Among the many artists that’ll be featured on the CMT episodes are Cyndi Lauper, Graham Nash, the late Gregg Allman, Gladys Knight, Kris Kristoferson, and rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis. The first installment of the series to air on CMT is Skyville Live: Kris Kristofferson & Friends, which debuts on January 19 at 10 p.m. ET. The program features performances of lauded…