METALLICA: Pick The Best Song of All Time
Metallica celebrated the 100th episode of The Metallica Report Podcast by trying to answer a very difficult question -- what is the best song of all time. Guitarist Kirk Hammett went first -- and was the only member to stick to just one song. "The classical piece 'Blue Danube' [by Johann Strauss]. Every time I hear it, it just pulls at my heartstrings. I don't know why. But it's just a beautiful piece of music."
James Hetfield then asked "Is this a song for every mood, every day, every action? You know, when I'm driving 'Ace of Spades' [by Motorhead] is the best song." He then considered what would be the best written song. "As stupid and simple as it sounds, I think [Led Zeppelin's] 'Stairway to Heaven' is just one of those songs that so many bands have tried to emulate. You start off light and end up heavy. [Lynyrd Skynyrd's] 'Free Bird's' that 'One.' There's so many songs that have emulated that."
Lars Ulrich then added, "If you go for that kind of vibe then I'd throw [Deep Purple's] 'Child of Time' in there. And if you go the opposite, cause there's this thing about simplicity in a song, and it's harder to write simple than the other way, then the first one that comes to mind is [Oasis'] 'Supersonic.'"
Robert Trujillo couldn't narrow it down to just one song. "Seriously, if we're going down this route, I think every single song of freaking Back to Black. Every AC/DC song on the Back in Black album is crazy. It's all like one good song to me."
Then Hetfield brought the conversation to and end by stating, "Okay, I got it. Anything by Black Sabbath."
VAN HALEN: An Expanded Balance
Van Halen's last album with Sammy Hagar, 1995's Balance, is getting an expanded 30th anniversary edition on August 15th. The two CD, two LP and Blu-ray box set includes a remastered version of the original album, the B-side “Crossing Over,” “Humans Being” and “Respect the Wind” from the Twister soundtrack and eight tracks from a concert at London's Wembley Stadium in June 24th, 1995. The Blu-ray has six videos from the album. The two CD and two LP versions will also be released separately from the box set. Check out one of the tracks from the Wembley Stadium concert, "The Seventh Seal," on YouTube. Rhino Records says this "concludes Rhino’s spotlight on the band’s classic albums from the Hagar era," which means 1986's 5150 and 1988's OU812 will not be getting expanded editions. A box set of 1991's For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge was released last year.
ZZ Top Announces Additional 2025 Elevation Tour Dates Following Frank Beard's Return
ZZ Top has expanded their North American Elevation Tour, adding more than a dozen new shows to their schedule. Drummer Frank Beard is back with the band after recovering from foot and ankle issues. The new shows include dates in various states, with openers such as Night Ranger, The Wallflowers, and Black Stone Cherry. The tour is set to run through November 21 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. For a complete list of dates, visit ZZTop.com. Tickets for the new shows go on sale Friday morning at 10am.
THE ROLLING STONES: Get a Taste of "Zydeco"
The Rolling Stones have shared their cover of “Zydeco Sont Pas Salés" from the Clifton Chenier tribute album A Tribute to the King of Zydeco, which is due out Friday. The track sees Mick Jagger singing in Creole with accompaniment from Grammy-winning accordion player Steve Riley. Check it out on YouTube. The track will also be released as a limited edition seven-inch single on Friday that includes Clifton Chenier's original version on the flip side. Wednesday, June 25th, would have been Chenier's 100th birthday. Also, on A Tribute to the King of Zydeco are Taj Mahal, Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Jimmie Vaughan, David Hidalgo
from Los Lobos, Sonny Landreth, John Hiatt and many others. It was co-produced by Los Lobos keyboardist and sax player Steve Berlin. Proceeds from the album will benefit the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship at the University of Louisiana Lafayette.
FOREIGNER: What Farewell Tour?
Foreigner are taking a page out of the book "written" by The Who, Judas Priest, KISS, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Scorpions, Elton John, Motley Crue, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne and many others who announced farewell shows and/or tours only to keep going. With singer Kelly Hansen
retiring following their summer tour, bassist Jeff Pilson tells Billboard they're no longer saying goodbye. “There’s just a lot of forward movement, and the band is incredibly excited. What started off as being a farewell tour now ended up being Kelly’s last tour and (the band) moving forward.” Taking over vocal duties will be their guitarist, Luis Maldonado. “Luis really had no intention of this,” says Pilson. “He was trying to talk Kelly into staying. And when it became clear Kelly really wants to live a life now … Luis just stepped up and, oh my God, that voice came through... “It’s creating a unified front. We’re able to integrate everything, not only with [original singer] Lou [Gramm making guest appearances] but everything about Foreigner, into the present. Making this change, with Luis, with [founder and guitarist] Mick [Jones] and Lou’s endorsement and having the whole organization working more together, has been such a positive thing.” Next up for Foreigner is Arnolds Park, Iowa this Friday and Council Bluffs, Iowa on Sunday.
Rod Stewart Had To Negotiate For 15 More Minutes Of Stage Time At Glastonbury
He's a knight, for goodness sake. A rock legend. And Rod Stewart had to beg for more stage time? True story. As Sir Rod was putting together his set list for his appearance at Glastonbury this weekend, he found he needed 15 more minutes in order to put on the show he felt the fans wanted and the event required...only to be told "no." Rod was given 75 minutes to perform his headlining set, and the festival balked at giving him more time...though they eventually did see the benefit of having one of the all-time greats perform for a few more minutes. Talking to the "BBC," Rod said, "Usually I do well over two hours so there’s still a load of songs we won’t be able to do. But we’ve been working at it. I’m not gonna make any announcements between songs. I’ll do one number, shout ‘next’, and go straight into the next one. I’m going to get in as many songs I can." Rod takes the stage this Sunday night; as to what fans can expect, Rod says, "It’ll be glamorous, it’ll be sexy. We’ve got a little orchestra coming on to play with us. And we may have some bagpipes."
PRETENDERS: Hot on the Chain Gang
Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders thinks that as temperatures continue to get hotter worldwide, outdoor rock shows will have to stop. In a new Instagram post Hynde writes, "I trust you’re all surviving the heat waves. I’m remembering the last couple years when we supported Guns N’ Roses, and then the Foo Fighters in stadiums (to pay for the clubs which I prefer playing). It was so hot I had to strap ice packs around my waist. And I realised then that outdoor events are going to come to an end. It’s too hot."
EURYTHMICS, ANNIE LENNOX: A Career in Photos
Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox has a new visual memoir due out on September 16th.
Annie Lennox: Retrospective features more than 200 photographs from Lennox’s personal archives, from Polaroids and portraits to music video stills and album covers. She says, “There have been thousands of photographic images floating around in the zeitgeist throughout the decades of my life as a performer. In a way, each one serves as part of the picture-puzzle narrative of my story. With Retrospective, I wanted to look back at my life’s work lived under the public gaze, throughout the creation of music—lyrics—recordings and film." “Each album, video, and photograph has its own identity and style. Retrospective could actually have been presented in many different ways, with many more different images. But for now -- here it is… A memento, a souvenir -- a life lived through imagery and sound. I hope you enjoy it!"
Ford To Fund Tina Turner Statue In Tennessee Hometown
Tina Turner is getting a statue in her hometown. The City of Brownsville and Ford Motor company have announced the company will contribute 150-thousand-dollars towards the statue as part of the Good Neighbor Plan for West Tennessee. The seven-foot-bronze statue will be installed at Heritage Park, just steps away from Carver High School, where the singer once attended.The artwork is set to be unveiled during Tine Turner Heritage Days this September.
IN OTHER NEWS
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band had to stop their show Tuesday in San Sebastian, Spain because of bad weather. After the 35-minute delay, Springsteen came out and did a very rare solo electric version of "Growing Up." It was also the first show of the tour without Steve Van Zandt, who will be sitting out a few dates due to having his appendix removed. Springsteen's Land of Hope and Dreams tour moves back to Germany this Friday.
Ahead of his performance at the Glastonbury festival on Sunday, a new plaque marking the start of Rod Stewart's career has been placed at the Twickenham train station in London. In 1964, he went to see Long John Baldry in concert and while waiting for his train home at that station he started singing a Muddy Waters song. Baldry was also waiting for his train, heard Stewart singing and offered him a job.
John Oates and The Outlaws have been added to the Rock Legends Cruise 13, which sails from Fort Lauderdale, Florida on February 23rd to Jamaica before returning on the 27th. Other acts on the cruise include The Guess Who with Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, Gene Simmons Band, Kevin Cronin Band, Loverboy, Blue Oyster Cult and many others.
Wolfgang Van Halen says he had to pull out of playing Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's
Back to the Beginning concert on July 5th in Birmingham, England because Mammoth have to prep for their opening slot on Creed's tour that starts July 9th in Lexington, Kentucky.
Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins interviews Gavin Rossdale of Bush on the new episode of The Magnificent Others podcast.