GUNS N' ROSES: We Don't Like the Illusion of Atmos
Its seems that Guns n' Roses aren't fans of anyone tinkering with their classics. Steven Wilson, the frontman of Porcupine Tree who's embarked on a second career as a go-to remixer for Dolby Atmos reissues, said that he put in a lot of work ahead of the band's 2022 Use Your Illusion Super Deluxe Edition box set that's unlikely to ever come out. Wilson told the Scars and Guitars podcast, “That came through the record company, and I did it all, and then the band basically vetoed it all. So the only thing that ever came out was my remix of ‘November Rain’, with a real orchestra added. “And that was a shame, ’cause that’s a lot of music on those records -- I think I worked on about 40 songs, including outtakes, B-sides, and God knows what else. And then the band basically turned around and decided they didn’t like it. “They didn’t like [Dolby] Atmos, they didn’t like the idea of their music being in spatial audio. So that project is kind of just sitting on my hard drive, unreleased and unheard. It’s such a shame. Amazing, amazing records. Amazing records. But yes, a shame in a way that it got sort of bogged down in band politics and God knows what else.” Wilson has already done Atmos mixes for classic albums from The Who, Tears for Fears, Yes, Jethro Tull, KISS, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Rush, Chicago and Chic.
Def Leppard Has "Plenty Of Stuff" For New Album Due Out Next Year
Def Leppard has no intention of just playing the hits on the classic rock touring circuit. Sure, they'll do that, but they're also planning new music. In a recent interview with "USA Today,"
Joe Elliot explained that a new album is in the works. The followup to 2022's "Diamond Star Halos" is being recorded in much the same way as that album was, the singer says. Most of that album was recorded remotely, with the band in different locations. They were so happy with the results, Elliott says, they're recording their upcoming album under similar conditions. "We’re blessed that technology has allowed us to do this," Elliott explained. "We get together metaphorically rather than physically and do Zoom meetings all the time. This way five people can work on the same song at the same time and it adds excitement to the flavors of what you’re doing. Laptops have become Abbey Road [studio]." No mention yet of a release date.
Kelly Osbourne Is Struggling After Ozzy's Death
Not surprisingly, Kelly Osbourne admits she’s not doing well in the aftermath of the passing of her father, Ozzy Osbourne. "I’ve sat down to write this a hundred times and still don’t know if the words will ever feel like enough… but from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” she wrote on her Instagram Story yesterday. She did say that one of the things keeping her afloat is the outpouring of love from his fans. "The love, support, and beautiful messages I’ve received from so many of you have truly helped carry me through the hardest moment of my life,” she said, adding, "Every kind word, every shared memory, every bit of compassion has meant more than I can ever explain."
JOHN FOGERTY: Another Honor
John Fogerty will have to make room in his trophy case for another piece of hardware.
On September 8th at a private event in Nashville, he will be honored with performance rights organization BMI's Troubadour Award, which recognizes a songwriter who has made a profound impact on the creative community and whose work continues to set the pace for generations to follow. Previous recipients include Billy Gibbons, John Hiatt, John Oates, John Prine and Lucinda Williams. Since his affiliation with BMI in 2005, Fogerty has been named a BMI Icon in 2010 and was presented with the BMI Board of Directors Award in 2023. He’s also received 13 BMI Million-Air certificates, recognizing his songs that have surpassed over one million radio airplays, which collectively have had over 64 million broadcast performances.
News of this award comes as Fogerty prepares to release his new album, Legacy, a 20-track collection of newly recorded versions of the biggest hits he wrote as a member of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
JERRY GARCIA: He Has a Street
It's taken 30 years since his passing, but Jerry Garcia now has a street named after him in his native San Francisco. Last Friday, on what would have been the Grateful Dead leader's 83rd birthday, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie spoke at the ceremony re-naming part of Harrington Street, where Garcia's grandparents lives and where he spent part of childhood.
“Jerry gave San Francisco and its people lasting memories and music. He created something out of nothing. Jerry had the spirit of a rock star, an innovator and a futurist.” Garcia’s third oldest daughter Trixie was on hand for the honor, saying, “Jerry was a magical person. He was humble, he was generous, he was talented. It’s truly an honor, on behalf of Jerry Garcia’s family, to witness this historic street naming.” Garcia died on August 9th, 1995 from a heart attack at 53. This past weekend, also in San Francisco, Dead & Company played three shows in celebration of the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary at Golden Gate Park.
GENESIS: There Was Some Understanding 55 Years Ago
Yesterday (Monday, August 4th) was the 55th anniversary of Phil Collins joining Genesis.
He says he and the guitarist from his band at that time, Flaming Youth, answered an ad from a band looking for a drummer and guitarist. The auditions took place at Peter Gabriel's parent's house in Chobham, England. "They sent me out to the swimming pool to have a swim while they were auditioning the guys that were ahead of me. And of course I could hear everything that was going on and I could see these other guy's mistakes. I mean one guy warmed up for 10, 15 minutes with a drum solo. I knew that was the wrong attitude to take so I didn't do that. And by the time that I actually played, I knew all the bits that they were auditioning people with, you know."
Collins replaced John Mayhew, who played on their second album, 1970's Trespass, who keyboardist Tony Banks felt wasn't the right fit. "We had a lot of ideas in terms of sounds, and, you know, we were trying to be very ambitious musically, but we didn't have the drummer to cope with it at the time." Mayhew died in 2009.
While it turned out to be the right decision for both Collins and Genesis, Collins once said he would have left Genesis for The Who. "Keith died in the last, you know, few months previous and I said, 'What's happening with The Who? I'd love to play.' And he literally said, 'We just asked Kenney Jones.' I would have left Genesis. I knew I could do that. I didn't think they had it with Kenney and I didn't think they had it with Simon Phillips. And I went to see them at the [Madison Square] Garden with Zak Starkey and I thought, 'At last you found a drummer that can do it.'"
And roughly 20 years after that conversation, Collins was given the opportunity. "They did ask me to rehearse with them to do a show at the [Royal] Albert Hall and I said no because I didn't want to leave Switzerland - I had just got settled in Switzerland. There's one thing I should have done was to say, 'Yeah, I'll do that.' Rehearse for a week and do a show at the Albert Hall with The Who."
Foreigner Set To Introduce New Frontman To U.S. Audiences
Foreigner is introducing their new frontman. Luis Maldonado will make his first stateside appearance with the band during their "Foreigner 4 Deluxe" tour. The trek kicks off with a two-night stand in Port Chester, New York on December 3rd and 4th. Original lead singer Lou Gramm will also reunite with the group for select songs.Foreigner is currently on their 2025 U.S. tour with Kelly Hansen. The next show is happening tonight in Cohasset, Massachusetts.
JACK WHITE: The Ballpark King
Jack White is well known as a big baseball fan, and over the weekend he hit a milestone.
White and his two baseball travel pals, Lalo and David Swanson, attended the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Philles game on Saturday. White revealed on Instagram they "completed our longtime mission of seeing a baseball game in every major league baseball stadium! The Philadelphia Phillies versus the Detroit Tigers at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. (Tigers won!) It was a beautiful park." White then asked a question of his followers - "Is it necessary that we see a game in the temporary stadium that the Tampa Bay Rays are currently playing in? Have we completed the journey or not since the stadium is only temporary? Note; we have seen a game already at the temporary home to the Athletics, Sutter Health Park in Sacramento." Most of the comments say White has completed his journey, but he should go down to Tampa to see a game at their temporary home of Steinbrenner Field becuase it's the chance to see another game.
NICKLEBACK: Someday (You'll Stop Singing in the Woods)
A camper in Summerfield, British Columbia found himself face to face with a search and rescue team because of his love of Nickelback. The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue crew were out training last Thursday when they received a 911 report from two hikers who called after hearing what sounded like “repeated cries” near the Boulderfield climbing area. The crew switched from training to rescue mode, activating its drone team and splitting in to two teams to start searching the woods and the forest roads. They quickly discovered “faint yelling – but couldn’t make out what was being said.” As they got closer they realized the camper was singing along to a collection of Nickelback's greatest hits. Search manager Duane Tresnich told the Vancouver Sun that the camper "wasn’t in trouble. Unless you count his singing.”
Oasis Fan Misses Entire Concert After Security Guard Knocks Him Unconscious
An Oasis fan is asking for tickets to their reunion shows later this year after missing their Manchester concert because he got knocked out by a securit guard. According to British newspaper Metro, Joel Garner was outside the venue of their July 16th show with his sister and three others when he was knocked over by a security guard who was trying to catch a gate jumper. Garner became unconscious and ended up having a seizure on the ground before being transported to a hospital. The 34-year-old and his group remained at the hospital until 4 a.m. and missed the entire Oasis show. Wile Garner says while he is "gutted" to have missed the show, he has decided not to press charges.
IN OTHER NEWS
Stone Temple Pilots will perform a nine-minute medley during halftime of the Denver Broncos - Las Vegas Raiders game on December 7th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Joe Walsh, while in his hometown of Wichita, Kansas last week to announce his VetsAid show there on November 15th, took time out to visit a local eatery. He posted a photo on Instagram, captioning it, “When you’re in Wichita, you go to the Doo Dah Diner and get in line like everybody else for breakfast and you don’t care because the sun is shining, there’s a breeze on and you know you’re in for good food with good people. Thanks for the hospitality and can’t wait to see you again in November for VetsAid!”
Sammy Hagar has released a live version of “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,” his tribute to Eddie Van Halen. It’s from his Las Vegas residency this past April and May. You can find it on YouTube.
Michael Anthony and his family took in the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California over the weekend and posted a video of some of the action on Instagram.
Bryan Adams posted a video on Instagram of the CD and vinyl manufacturing of his new album, Roll With the Punches, which will be out on August 29th.
A “bald” and “bearded” Alex Lifeson, posing as “Mr. Big Chunk, birzday massager,” posted a happy birthday to his Rush bandmate Geddy Lee on Instagram, writing, “Happy birzday, Mr. Geddy from friend Aleck. He tells me to wisheded you have fun and make dancing around the town. I so sorry to misseded birzday yesterday but I very busy man, mostly. He hopeded you haved nice.” Geddy turned 72 last Tuesday – July 29th.