- Now available from the Grateful Dead is The Angel's Share. The new outtakes collection, which clocks in at over two-hours, is compiled from dozens of 16-track reels that were recently discovered in unlabeled boxes from the band's 1970 Workingman's Dead sessions. The Angel's Share includes outtakes for every song on the album, which have been unheard since they left the studio over 50 years ago. The 50th anniversary reissue of Workingman's Dead collection will be released on July 10th. (Press release)
- Elton John will launch a weekly Classic Concert archival series on Friday (July 3rd) on his official YouTube channel. The series will raise funds toward the Elton John AIDS Foundation in support of COVID-19 relief efforts. Kicking off the series is Elton's famed September 17th, 1976 concert at Edinburgh, Scotland's Playhouse Theatre, with five more two-hour concerts set to air.
- Elton said in a statement, “My Foundation’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund helps frontline partners prepare for and respond to the pandemic and its effects on HIV prevention and care for the most marginalized communities. We cannot jeopardize HIV testing and care during this time or else the results could be disastrous for the 37.5 million people living with HIV. So, I’m really happy to connect this YouTube Concert series to benefit our Foundation’s urgent COVID response.” (Variety)
- Joe Walsh posted a video of him and his godson — Roy Orbison's four-year-old grandson, Roy Orbison III — jamming at home to his 1973 classic, “Rocky Mountain Way.” Young Roy's dad, Roy II, told Rolling Stone, “Roy III plays guitar a lot. The first time we heard him play the whole song is the performance you see in the video. It was amazing!” Young Roy added: “Joe gave me my first cupcake and my Marshall amp. I love Joe!” (Rolling Stone)
- CNN's The Fourth In America primetime special will air on Saturday, July 4th from 8 pm to 12 am ET. Among the artists performing will be Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Carlos & Cindy Santana, Barry Manilow, Jewel, Kenny Loggins, Martina McBride, the O’Jays, CeCe Winans, Don McLean, Harlem Gospel Choir, Jesse Colin Young, as well as the original Broadway cast of the Bob Dylan musical, Girl From the North Country.
- CNN's The Fourth In America will stream live for subscribers on CNN.com's homepage and across mobile devices via CNN's apps for iOS and Android. It can also be viewed on CNNgo. (CNN)
- The Go-Go's have just posted the trailer to their eagerly anticipated Alison Eastwood-directed self-titled documentary set to air on August 1st on Showtime. The band said in a statement: “We lived it and we survived it. Now, looking back on our history through this film, we get to relive our journey as a band: the fun, the adventure, the highs and the lows. We hope this documentary will show the world that we were pioneers, and how our experience paved the way for many other female (and some male!) musicians.”
- United Stations Media Networks and Storic Media Podcast Network will present the “Rock For Relief” benefit concert supporting Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund on July 3rd at 8pm ET and again at 11pm ET. “Rock For Relief” will be hosted by Lou Brutus and Riki Rachtman with talent interviews conducted by Alice Cooper and Joe Satriani.
- The line-up of performances includes headliner Corey Taylor alongside, Gavin Rossdale, George Thorogood, Don Felder (former lead guitarist of the Eagles), Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge), Lzzy Hale & Joe Hottinger (Halestorm), Jesse Hasek & Brian Vodinh (10 Years), Filter, Lisa Loeb, the Dead Daisies, Chris Robertson (Black Stone Cherry), Starset, Brandon Saller (Atreyu), Ricky Byrd, Bobby Whitlock & CoCo Carmel, Joe Grushecky, Kathy Sledge, Bones Owens, BJ Thomas, Danielia Cotton & Mickey Factz, Matt Bigland (Dinosaur Pile-Up) and more. Also appearing are Peter Frampton, Melissa Rivers, and Adam Gontier of Saint Ansonia. The “Rock For Relief” log on links are: rockforrelief.net and/or youtube.com/storicmedia
- Robbie Robertson revealed that he passed up the chance to lend his guitar work to Bob Dylan's new album, Rough And Rowdy Ways. During his appearance on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, he explained why he skipped out on the opportunity to hit the studio with Dylan for the first time since the Band backed him on 1974's chart-topping, Planet Waves collection. He noted that he was juggling the completion of his album Sinematic, the score for Martin Scorsese's The Irishman, and the 50th anniversary reissue of the Band's self-titled 1969 album. Robertson recalled, “I was just slammed with work. I said, 'Right now, I’m in the middle of this stuff,' and I think that he just felt like it was cooked and he needed to bring it out of the oven. So he went in and recorded this album.”
- Robertson said that Dylan recited him some of his new lyrics: “I thought, this is just terrific writing and something that only Bob could do. And I would have loved for us to work together on that. But I just couldn’t do it at that time. I was gonna check in with him and just say, 'God, I’m sorry I wasn’t available then, but let’s see if we can cause some trouble down the line.'” (Rolling Stone)
- James Taylor will stream his 2015 Fenway Park concert for free on July 4th. The concert, which featured appearances by opening act, Bonnie Raitt, is set to air on both Facebook/JamesTaylor (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET) and on YouTube (2 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET).
- The late singer/songwriter John Prine has been named the first honorary poet laureate of Illinois, his home state. Governor J.B. Pritzker said in a statement: “John Prine leaves behind an unparalleled musical legacy and was beloved by family and millions of fans who hope that in Heaven he finds Paradise waitin' just as he longed for.” John Prine died this past April 7th at the age of 73 due to complications from coronavirus. (Billboard)
- Out now is “The World's Gone Insane” from the Empty Hearts' upcoming second album — titled, The Second Album — due out on August 29th. The band features guitarist Elliot Easton of the Cars, drummer Clem Burke of Blondie, guitarist Wally Palmar of the Romantics, and bassist and Andy Babiuk from the Chesterfield Kings. The album, which is the followup to the band's 2014 debut, will also feature Ringo Starr guesting on one track and will be released via Steve Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records. (Rolling Stone)
Quick Takes: The Grateful Dead, Elton John, Joe Walsh, Pat Benatar, James Taylor, The Go-Go’s, John Prine, Alice Cooper, Robbie Robertson, The Cars
Jul 1, 2020 | 8:00 PM
