December 15, 2001 – Joe Walsh receives an honorary Doctorate of Music in recognition of his musical achievement and involvement in environmental and humanitarian causes from Kent State University. Walsh attended school there off and on for six years during the 60’s, without ever graduating.  He says, “I majored in English and minored in music. Unfortunately, I was at the Kent … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 15 in Classic Rock →

Classics Du Jour (CDJ) is excited and proud to announce the release of “Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay and The Art Of Rock Promotion” written by our own Paul Rappaport (‘Backstage Access‘)! Release date for the book is April 1st (available NOW for presale through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold ).“Gliders Over Hollywood” tells the exhilarating true … Continue reading CDJ’s Paul Rappaport Shares the Stories and Secrets Behind Rock ‘n’ Roll’s Greatest Promotional Antics in his New Memoir ‘Gliders Over Hollywood’ →

November 10, 1986 – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band release Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live/1975-85; it sells one-million copies in one day.  Live/1975–85 is the second best selling live album in U.S. history, selling 13x platinum, trailing only Garth Brooks’ Double Live. November 10, 2014 – Cranberries singer Dolores O’Riordan is arrested after an alleged air rage incident on a … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 10 in Classic Rock →

July 9, 1995 – Jerry Garcia performs his last concert with the Grateful Dead at Chicago’s Soldier Field.  At the time, no one knew this would be Garcia’s last show, even Garcia himself.  Although he’d been clean for several years, Garcia had returned to using drugs to ease some physical ailments.  He died exactly one month later at … Continue reading CDJ Today: July 9 in Classic Rock →

Elvis Costello has reunited with one of his very first bandmates to record a new EP, due out June 10th. The Resurrection of the Rust sees Elvis Costello joined by Allan Mayes for the first time on what Costello refers to as “the record we would have cut when we were 18, if anyone had let … Continue reading Elvis Costello Reunites with First Band on New Album →

Elvis Costello will head out across the United States this summer kicking of a North American tour on August 6 in Huber Heights, OH and wrapping up September 3 in Las Vegas. The run includes 14 shows in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, Colorado, Utah, California and Nevada and one show north of … Continue reading Elvis Costello Announces U.S. Summer Tour →

The New Orleans Jazz Fest has a been canceled for the second year in a row as Covid-19 cases in the state of Louisiana rise. Organizers of the festival announced the cancelation Monday, saying in a statement “We now look forward to next spring, when we will present the Festival during its traditional timeframe.” The … Continue reading New Orleans Jazz Fest Canceled As Covid Cases Rise →

I recently watched the new docu-series Laurel Canyon.  If you enjoyed Echo in The Canyon (which I thought was extraordinary), Laurel Canyon is a great follow-up.  It’s a two-part television documentary and gives a much broader view of that legendary Laurel Canyon music scene. It includes many more artists than Echo and I learned a … Continue reading Laurel Canyon, The Byrds, Elvis Costello and My Rickenbacker Guitar →

Ringo Starr will have a little help from his friends as he celebrates his 80th birthday virtually today. The Beatles drummer will be joined by former bandmate Paul McCartney, the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, Sheryl Crow, Ben Harper and Dave Grohl, Gary Clark Jr., and Sheila E. for a YouTube streamcast beginning at 8pm ET Tuesday … Continue reading Ringo Starr to Celebrate 80th Birthday with Virtual Concert Featuring Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh and More →

The nominations for the 2020 Grammy Awards have been announced and Chris Cornell, Tony Iommi, The Cranberries and Tool are among those whose work is being considered. Tool’s long-anticipated LP Fear Inoculum has garnered the group two nominations. The album’s title track is being considered for Best Rock Song with the song “7empest” picking up … Continue reading 2020 Grammy Nominees Include, Chris Cornell, Tony Iommi, Tool and The Cranberries →

Helios Console (Image: Bonhams Auctions) A significant piece of rock music history is going up for auction next month. Bonhams Auction House has revealed that they will be taking bids on a console which was used to record portions of Led Zeppelin’s IV including “Stairway To Heaven.” This unique console is actually an amalgamation of … Continue reading Studio Desk Used to Record Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” Going Up For Auction →

Would you feel any different listening to a Gordon Sumner record, or rocking out with Chaim Witz? Check out these rock stars that changed their name and see how many you know! Click on the plus sign next to each name to reveal the artist’s stage name! 30 Stuart Leslie Goddard Adam Ant 29 Martyn … Continue reading 30 Rock Stars That Changed Their Name →