Quite a lineup was assembled for the Newport, California Pop Festival at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on the weekend of August 3 & 4, 1968. The lineup included the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, the Byrds, Eric Burden and the Animals, Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, Canned Heat, the Chambers Brothers, Blue Cheer, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and Quicksilver Messenger Service. It became the first festival to draw more than 100,000.

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on August 3 include...

1946 Byrds bassist John York born.

1961 Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker born (Leon Drucker)

1963 Collective Soul's Ed Roland born.

1963 Metallica's James Hetfield born.

1963 The Beatles final Cavern Club performance takes place.

1966 The Rolling Stones record Let's Spend the Night Together.

1969 Creedence Clearwater Revival releases Green River. 

1969 Alice Cooper releases Pretties For You. 

1971 Paul McCartney forms Wings.

1974 Jeff Baxter leaves Steely Dan to join Doobie Brothers.

1974 Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band appear as the middle act at a Wolman Skating Rink Central Park concert headlined by Anne Murray and opened by Brewer and Shipley.

1979 Talking Heads release Fear of Music.

1987 Def Leppard releases Hysteria.

1991 Animal rights activists confront Ted Nugent in New Hampshire.

1997 Bob Dylan resumes performing for the first time since developing a heart problem.

2000 Pearl Jam opens a US tour in Virginia Beach. VA.

2002 Bob Dylan returns to the Newport Folk Festival for the first time in 37 years.

2006 Traffic's reunion tour is scrapped when Jim Capaldi develops a severe ulser problem.

2006 Love's Arthur Lee dies of Leukemia.

2009 Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann plays drums with Phish during Red Rocks, Colorado concert.

Some years back, Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood set out to present a series of albums paying tribute to musicians that had a big influence on him. He also staged some concerts with the same theme. The one he did at Royal Albert Hall in the fall of 2013 to honor Jimmy featured Wood with Bobby Womack, Paul Weller, Mick Hucknall and Mick Taylor, the Stones guitarist Woody replaced in 1974. Mr. Luck - A Tribute to Jimmy Reed features 18 songs recorded on November 13, 2013. It gets released on September 17th. Wood's tribute to Chuck Berry titled Mad Lad got released in 2019.

ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill died in his sleep at his Houston home last night. The passing of Hill, who had left the group's tour late last week due to a hip problem, was confirmed in an announcement issued by Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard who wrote, "We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX. We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the 'Top'. We will forever be connected to that "Blues Shuffle in C." You will be missed greatly, amigo".  R.I.P., Dusty.

What's better than a great guitar tech? A great one that also has the chops to fill-in when you can't do a concert. That was the case for ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill Friday night (7/23). The Texas trio had a date in New Lennox, Illinois but Dusty was out of contention due to a hip injury. Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard called on the band's longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis to pinch hit on bass and slide guitar, and he even played harmonica during the set.

Mick Jagger's decade long curse on England's national soccer team came to an end with the team's recent victory, the first with the Stones Front man in attendance in 10 years, and Jagger broke the law to witness it in person. Mick flew home from France and went to the game in violation of a mandatory quarantine period before going out. He was fined a pittance more than $15,000 for his indiscretion - pocket change to him.

Jim Morrison's estate has authorized a yet to be titled biopic that will focus on the creative aspects of the late Doors front man's music, poetry and art. A production spokesman for the film company says the documentary will delve into recently discovered diaries and notes and will include footage and information about the charismatic singer that has never been revealed. A director hasn't been selected for the project, but the producers are looking for one that will take a much more nuanced approach to Morrison as an artist than Oliver Stone did in his over-the-top 1991 movie that cast Val Kilmer as the singer.

The Immediate Family, a band that includes an all-star lineup of studio greats, will release a self-titled album August 27 and the group will venture out on its first tour beyond California this fall.  Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Waddy Wachtel (guitar), Russ Kunkel (drums), Leland Sklar (bass) have earned legend status in the minds of the more familiar named stars whose albums and tours they have played on. Collectively, that list includes Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Keith Richards, Phil Collins, Warren Zevon, Don Henley and dozens more.  They are joined by guitarist Steve Postell on the album and tour.

A remix of the landmark original album plus 3 discs of previously unreleased material that include demos. alternate takes, jam sessions and studio conversations involving George and Peter Frampton, Eric Clapton, Dave Mason and others.
The remix extracts restores the recording to a clarity that Harrison felt was lost in the dense, reverb filled mix that Phil Spector produced for the original release.
The release date is August 6, 2021, but pre-orders are available now here

Bruce Springsteen has 2022 plans for the E Street Band but will spend the remainder of this year with new series of Springsteen on Broadway performances. His first run was extended three times and racked-up a total of 236 shows. The 2021 production is being booked into a much larger theater, but will be essentially the same show as the previous one.

Bruce has also done collaborations with some other artists now that it's safe to be together in studios. He worked on single track with Brandon Flowers and the Killers that will be released this coming week and recorded three songs with John Mellencamp in his Indiana studio for John's album due in the fall. Springsteen is also planning a new release on his own and prepping some archival material for release before the year is out.

Eric Clapton's 1970 self-titled solo debut album gets a 4 CD expanded re-release on August 21st that features the UK release mix of the original album by Tom Dowd plus additional remixes done by Delaney Bramlett and EC himself. The 4th CD includes alternate takes of tracks on the original release and studio outtakes.

Along with having his life disrupted by the pandemic, Lindesy Buckingham has experienced additional turbulence since losing his place in Fleetwood Mac in 2018.  This week, his wife of 21 years filed for divorce. But Buckingham is focused on the future.  He will release his first solo album in a decade on September 17th and has an extensive set of US solo tour dates set to start in early September that will run through December 20th.  The 10 track self-titled album will be Buckingham's first since 1981's Law and Order.

One of the very few and far between silver lining aspects of a pandemic is that creative people realized people being deprived of the ability to travel would be hungry for virtual travel experiences. Several online companies offer them and most are rather typical tourist tours, but there are some to be found that are of particular interest to music fans. One of the best that we've found and enjoyed is this one about the Rolling Stones early stomping grounds in the Richmond section of London hosted by Paul Endicott.

Paul's personable nature and his impressive volume of knowledge about the UK music scene make this and the other virtual tours he conducts in real time outstandingly informative and entertaining. Tagging along is free, with a tips option, and Paul fields and answers questions along the way.

No need to pack, no TSA hassles, jetlag... just login, check for his tours and enjoy!  Check his schedule here. If you don't see one listed,check back.

Billy Gibbons' new solo album rolled out today and he is hosting a listening party for it on Tuesday, June 8th starting at 3pm eastern. Access to that session being streamed on Spotify and Apple Music can be arranged at hardware.tunecast.com.

Billy and the musicians the ZZ Top mainstay lined up to play on the album will field some questions during the event that he promises is, "gonna be a good time and we're looking forward to checking out the grooves everybody in the world, known or otherwise, who wants to join us."

MORE ZZ TOP INSIGHTS

Some weeks ago, we passed along word that this original painting done by future Pink Floyd member Syd Barrett when he was just 15 was heading to auction. At the time, we expressed some surprise that the expected sale value for still life watercolor and pastel painting titled Orange Dahlias in a vase was pegged at just $7,000. With good reason, it turns out. When the gavel fell, the winning bid was just over $42,000 - a figure much more in line with what we figured a well heeled, art collecting Pink Floyd fan might pay for such a rare item.

MORE PINK FLOYD INSIGHTS

A dispute between Roger Waters and David Gilmour over the liner notes is holding-up the release of a remastered 5.1 mix of Pink Floyd's Animals album. Waters escalated the issue by posting the description written by Mark Blake on his website and commenting that his former band mate doesn't contest the validity of Blake's notes but prefers "...that history to remain secret". Waters apparently contends that Gilmour wants more credit than he is due for the concept, songwriting and album cover of the original 1977 release, while Gilmour evidently feels Blake's take on those things shortchanges him.

Waters claims that Gilmour is blocking the release of the album over this issue and also blocking Roger from posting anything about it on the Pink Floyd Facebook page that has more than 30 million followers.

It's unfortunate that the bickering of the two stands in the way of Floyd fans being able to enjoy the remastered masterpiece in surround sound.

MORE PINK FLOYD INSIGHTS

Orleans veteran John Hall released his 6th solo album this week. Reclaiming My Time was recorded in New York's Hudson Valley and in Nashville and finds Hall teaming with a number of talented musicians on acoustic and electric songs that range from tender, to bluesy, to rockin'. Among the guests on the album are the outstanding steel guitarist Dan Dugmore and singer Dar Williams. The album also includes a song co-written by John and his songwriting partner and former wife Johanna Hall, the writing team credited with writing several of the best known songs by Orleans including Still the One, Dance With Me, What I Need and Give One Heart as well as Half Moon on Janis Joplin's 1971 album and Good Enough on Bonnie Raitt's Home Plate album.

This week saw the release of a Pink Floyd tribute album that includes members of Yes, Genesis, Deep Purple and Queensryche, and noteworthy solo artists on Floyd classics from the group's 1975 album, Wish You Were Here.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond features Steve Hackett, Geoff Tate, Geoff Downes, Ian Paice, Mel Collins and Billy Sheehan.

Todd Rundgren, Rick Wakeman and Tony Levin do Welcome to the Machine.
Have a Cigar includes Steve Stevens and Patrick Moraz.

Triumph's Rik Emmett, guitar great Joe Satriani and drummer Carmen Appice are featured on Wish You Were Here. Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 6-9) finds Rod Argent, Steve Hillage and Bootsy Collins playing together.

The Who will join Queen, David Bowie and Elton John as members of the Royal Mint's Music Legends series with the issuing of a limited edition commemorative coin honoring the group. A sharp design combines a the band's bullseye logo with a guitar body emblazoned with a Union Jack flag and with pinball paddles and a ball in a nod to the Pinball Wizard.

MORE WHO INSIGHTS

The Who will join Queen, David Bowie and Elton John as members of the Royal Mint's Music Legends series with the issuing of a limited edition commemorative coin honoring the group. A sharp design combines a the band's bullseye logo with a guitar body emblazoned with a Union Jack flag and with pinball paddles and a ball in a nod to the Pinball Wizard.

MORE WHO INSIGHTS

Photo credit: Aaron Haney

John Mellancamp's hometown of Seymour, Indiana has converted a parking lot beneath a three story mural of the singer into a green space. The switch was made with the help of a donation from John's family. .

Most drummers look to get a lot of bang for their buck, but collectors willing to part with a lot of bucks for their bucks have the chance to bid on the custom Ludwig kit Alex Van Halen wailed on during more than 100 VH concert during the group's 1980 Invasion tour. All of the proceeds from the Julien's sale of the kit, which is expected to draw a top bid between $200,000 and $300,000 during the Music Icons auction June 11-13, will be donated to charity through the Frangioni Foundation and Mr. Holland's Opus. The auction also a slew of additional Van Halen memorabilia/collectibles.

MORE VAN HALEN INSIGHTS

The planned Aerosmith 50th Anniversary concert in the group's fabled hometown ballpark got called on account of Covid last September. The Band considered making it up this year, but is opting to wait until September 8, 2022 to play Fenway Park in Boston. In announcing the additional 16 month delay, the band wrote, "While we know that means you have to a bit a bit longer, we feel confident this is the right move in order to ensure we give you all the show you deserve for everyone that has held onto their tickets to see this show".

MORE AEROSMITH INSIGHTS

Eric Clapton, who joined Van Morrison on a song voicing opposing government imposed quarantine measures, says he suffered side effects after getting AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine that were severe and prolonged enough that he feared he would never be able to play guitar again. In a letter Clapton sent to an anti-lockdown activist, he wrote that he got his first shot in February and "...straight away had severe reactions which lasted ten days", and described his reactions to the first and second shots as "disastrous", writing, "My hands and feet were either frozen, numb or burning, and pretty much useless for two weeks". He admits that the adverse effects he experienced may have been brought on or amplified by the fact he was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.

MORE ERIC CLAPTON INSIGHTS

Pretenders veteran Chrissie Hynde credits Bob Dylan's nearly 17 minute long song Murder Most Foul for curing her of the morose mood she'd been in during the pandemic.  The change in her outlook inspired her to record some covers of some of her favorite Dylan songs during remote recording sessions done with her band mate James Walbourne.  The release titled Standing in the Doorway: Chrissie Hynde Sings Bob Dylan will drop on May 21 and will be accompanied by a video filmed as the nine songs the duo covers were being recorded.

Every once in awhile, we're startled by learning or being reminded that someone we think of as still being around isn't. It feels better when it's the other way around and we discover that someone we assume was long-gone is still alive. We felt that way when we saw this musical 85th birthday tribute to Wavy Gravy.

In addition to this being an outstanding lineup of musicians, the occasion will benefit the Seva Foundation, an organization that provides sight-saving surgeries, medicines, eyeglasses and other eye care services to tens of millions of people.  Voluntary donations to this organization that is near and dear to the honoree and the musicians participating in this streaming celebration will be greatly appreciated.  Learn more and chip in at seva.org.

Styx will release Crash Of The Crown on June 14th. Recorded during the pandemic, Tommy Shaw said the process was an exercise that helped the veteran band focus on trying to continue "...to send out positive messages", adding, "In order to share those positive messages, you have to look at what the problems are first to figure out all the ways you can help make sure everything's going to be alright." The release is the group's 17th studio album.

The February 8, 2006 the Rolling Stones concert staged on the Copacabana Beach front in Rio de Janeiro was one of the largest free concerts ever presented. On July 9, 2021, Mercury Studios will release the entire 20 song set in multiple formats - DVD+2CD, SD, Blu-ray+2CD, DVD+2CD Deluxe, 3LP 3 color vinyl, 3LP on clear vinyl, and digital. a five track EP will lead the way on May 28. The Deluxe 2DVD + 2CD edition includes a 40 page book and a November, 2005 20 song set from the Salt Lake City stop on the A Bigger Bang tour.

Tuesday's Gone, and so is a trailer stuffed with Lynyrd Skynyrd memorabilia that was going to be auctioned at a cancer fundraising benefit in Middleburg, Florida. Police are asking for the public's help in apprehending a 38 year-old suspect that is believed to have stolen the trailer from a Days Inn hotel in Orange Park. A BOLA has been issued for Williams James Walker, who police believe was driving the small, silver SUV pictured pulling the short, white utility trailer on hotel parking security footage.

The UK's Royal Mail is rolling out an 8 stamp series of album cover postage stamps honoring Paul McCartney. A 4 stamp set will feature photos of Paul taken while recording solo albums. The collection marks only the third time the British postal service has similarly honored musicians. It introduced a David Bowie set in 2017. Elton John was honored with one in 2019.

Ann Wilson hit the stage with Warren Haynes during Gov't Mule's set last weekend in New Haven, Connecticut to tear into a couple of Zeppelin songs and a Heart classic.