Category: Oldies News

Courtesy of GibsonKISS singer/bassist Gene Simmons has partnered with the Gibson company to launch G², a joint venture that will feature the release of right-handed and left-handed electric guitars and basses, as well as offer new streamed entertainment content. The name of the line, G², stands for “from Gene to Gibson.” The various instruments will be produced across Gibson’s Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer brands. Kicking off the collaboration will be the G² Thunderbird Bass, which will be released later this year. The instrument will be available in ebony-and-silver and ebony-and-blood…

Jimmy King/David Bowie EstateToday, on what would have been David Bowie‘s 74th birthday, the late rock legend’s music catalog has been made available on the TikTok video social-media platform. The new Bowie TikTok channel is now live, and features a variety of his official music videos spanning his five-decade-long career. In addition, a special Bowie playlist featuring such classic tracks as “Heroes,” “Space Oddity,” “Let’s Dance,” “Fame,” “Rebel Rebel,” “Life on Mars?” and “Ashes to Ashes” is available now on the TikTok Sounds page. Then, this Sunday, which is the…

Courtesy of Paradise ArtistsAnthony Gourdine, lead singer of the 1960s vocal group Little Anthony and the Imperials, celebrated his 80th birthday today. The group, which formed in late 1950s in Brooklyn, New York, scored a #4 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with its first single, “Tears on My Pillow.” Little Anthony and the Imperials followed that with a string of top 40 hits through the mid-1960s, including “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop,” “I’m on the Outside (Looking In),” “Goin’ Out of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad” and “Take Me Back.” Gourdine…

Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirectLooks like Tracy Chapman‘s got enough money to buy more than one “Fast Car.” The New York Post‘s Page Six reports that according to federal court documents, the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter has agreed to accept $450,000, as well as legal fees, from superstar rapper Nicki Minaj, in connection with a copyright infringement dispute. Nicki had interpolated Tracy’s 1988 hit “Baby Can I Hold You” on her song “Sorry.” However, Nicki didn’t include the song on her most recent album, 2018’s Queen, because Tracy denied Nicki’s team’s request for permission to…

UMe/American RecordingsThe Black Crowes will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1990 debut, Shake Your Money Maker, by releasing an expanded reissue of the album on February 26. The reissue, which can be pre-ordered now, will be available in multiple formats and configurations, including a four-LP or three-CD Super Deluxe edition that features a remastered version of the original album; a disc of B-sides, unheard studio recordings and unreleased demos; and a full, never-before-released concert recorded in December 1990 in the group’s hometown of Atlanta. The rare tracks include two…

Chris Walter/WireImageA viral video seemingly taken by Donald Trump Jr. backstage at President Trump’s speech on Wednesday — ahead of violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol — has drawn the ire of those who look after the legacy of the late Grammy-nominated pop star Laura Branigan. The video shows Trump and various family members around TV monitors, appearing to look at the crowd that had gathered to hear him speak; some people are dancing.  Branigan’s 1982 smash hit “Gloria” can be clearly heard playing in the background. On Thursday, Kathy…

Parlophone/ISO RecordsThe new single commemorating what would have been the late David Bowie‘s 74th birthday, featuring a pair of previously unreleased cover tunes Bowie recorded during the late 1990s, got its release Friday, digitally and as a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single. The songs are renditions of John Lennon‘s 1970 solo tune “Mother” and the 1997 Bob Dylan song “Tryin’ to Get to Heaven.” Only 8,147 numbered copies of the vinyl single are available, 1,000 of which are pressed on cream-colored vinyl and sold exclusively at Bowie’s official online store and…

Clocktower ExperiencesFans who are missing live music performances and the 1980s likely will want to check out a new virtual festival called the ’80s Radical Sabbatical, which is scheduled to take place on January 30. The event’s lineup is led by the one-and-only Kenny Loggins, who, of course, gave us ’80s movie-soundtrack hits like “I’m Alright,” “Danger Zone” and “Footloose,” not to mention his stint as part of the populr ’70s duo Loggins & Messina.  Other performers on the bill include Poison‘s Bret Michaels, founding Survivor member Jim Peterik, ex-Skid…

S-Curve Records/BMGWith today marking what would’ve been David Bowie‘s 74th birthday, and this Sunday being the fifth anniversary of his death, Duran Duran has just released a cover of his 1972 song “Five Years” in honor of the rock legend. Duran Duran’s version of “Five Years” is available now as a digital single, and the popular U.K. band also will perform the tune this evening as part of the previously announced star-studded virtual tribute concert, A Bowie Celebration: Just for One Day! “My life as a teenager was all about David…

Courtesy of QueenIt looks like 2021 will be a better-smelling year, thanks to Queen guitarist Brian May. The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is teaming up with Sergio Momo, founder of the Xerjoff perfume company, to launch a new limited-edition fragrance called Save Me. According to a post on May’s official website, sales of the perfume will benefit Save Me Trust, a charity Brian co-founded that focuses on protecting wild animals. The rocker and Momo will both take part in a special online event promoting Save Me at shop.livescale.tv…