On this day 1970, the Who released Live at Leeds, the group's ferociously raw set recorded on Valentine's Day three months earlier at the University Refectory, a 2,000 seat auditorium at the University of Leeds in West Yorkshire, UK. The concert was arranged expressly to record a live album that would dispel impressions the Tommy rock opera album created that the group was heading in an art rock direction. The intensely raw and hard rocking set delivered from the stage that night is produced what is widely considered one of the best live albums ever released.

Other Noteworthy Classic Rock Events on May 16th include...

1946 King Crimson's Robert Fripp born.

1946 Foghat drummer Roger Earl born

1947 Nazareth drummer Darrell Sweet born.

1950 Zephyr, James Gang, Deep Purple and Firefall guitarist Jock Bartley born

1951 Jonathan Richman born.     

1966 Beach Boys release Pet Sounds.     

1966 The Beatles record Taxman and For No One.

1969 John Lennon declared 'inadmissible immigrant' by State Department. 

1969 Jack Casady of Jefferson Airplane arrested on drug charge in New Orleans hotel.

1969 Pete Townshend jailed for hitting plain clothes cop who went on stage during Who Fillmore East concert to tell audience to evacuate due to a fire next door.

1970 Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane busted on drug charge in Bloomington, Indiana hotel.

1974 Queen cancels US tour when Brian May comes down with hepatitis.

1975 Kinks release A Soap Opera.

1978 Joe Walsh releases But Seriously, Folks.

1980 Paul McCartney releases McCartney II in the UK.

1980 Yes replaces Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman with Geoff Downes and Trevor Horn.

1980 Brian May collapses during a Queen concert and is hospitalized with hepatitis.

1984 Ozzy Osbourne is charged with public intoxication in Dallas.

1986 Elvis Costello marries Caitlan O'Riordan of the Pogues.

1998 Several Rolling Stones Bridges to Babylon tour dates get cancelled when Keith Richards breaks ribs in a fall while reaching for a book in his home.

2010 Ronnie James Dio dies of stomach cancer in Houston hospital.

2017 Bon Jovi does surprise performance of Reunion during Fairleigh Dickinson University graduation.

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.

We'll be surprised if the top bid for this instrument doesn't blow past the estimated value of $14-$21k when the hammer drops on the Gibson Les Paul Goldtop guitar autographed by a host of heavy weight musicians at Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert in New York 29 years ago. Bonhams will auction the guitar signed by Dylan, Tom Petty, George Harrison, Neil Young, Ronnie Wood, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson on May 5th.

The mahogany body and neck guitar features a maple topped body, a 22 fret rosewood fingerboard and will be delivered in a plush lined hard shell case and wrapped in a silk protector that was also signed by a number of musicians also at the tribute concert that night in Madison Square Garden.

The songwriter largely credited with Meat Loaf's success has died. Jim Steinman was credited as the songwriter that made the 1977 Bat Out Of Hell album a chart topping sensation that sold more than 50 million copies.  Meat Loaf called him the biggest influence on his life when inducting Steinman to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame nine years ago.  Steinman helped a number of other acts benefit from his hook laden songwriting skills, but it was his work with Meat Loaf that earned him the most highly recognized credit.
Steinman passed away due to kidney failure today at his Ridgefield, Connecticut home. He was 73.

AC/DC's dynamic front man Brian Johnson chronicles his life and the enormous challenge of stepping into the shoes of Bon Scott in a new autobiography he's titled The Lives of Brian: AC/DC, Me and the making of Back in Black. Johnson says the book coming out on October 26th covers his career from "choirboy to rock n' roll singer" with both his pre-AC/DC bands an this wild ride to the top with Down Under's bad boys of rock, and also gives readers an inside look at his other passion, exotic, high performance cars.

Johnson's book can be Pre-ordered here.

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Billy Gibbons has partnered with a restaurant outfit known as Delicious Concepts and Tequila company Pura Vida's founder to open a Tex-Mex eatery with a ZZ Top flavor. The Tres Amigo's Cafe and Cantina in Houston opens this Thursday. While enjoying traditional and innovative dishes, patrons can also take-in some ZZ Top memorabilia from Billy's collection. Adding to the meal appeal of Billy's place, a good chunk of the proceeds from the restaurant venture will be donated to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Rock biographer CM Kushins, who published a 2019 bio of Warren Zevon, will be back this fall with one that chronicles the short, tumultuous life and career of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. Beast: John Bonham and the Rise of Led Zeppelin will surprisingly be the first bio of a drummer many consider to be the greatest ever. The hardbound book due out on September 7th includes a forward by Dave Grohl and can be preordered here.

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Van Morrison's album titled Latest Record Project: Volume One drops on May 7th. Van the Man will follow it up the next day by doing his first live streamed concert set ever. The concert featuring some of the 28 songs on the new album getting released on vinyl and CD and a number of classics from his massive catalog will originate from Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in Wiltshire, England and can be viewed in HD starting at 3pm (Eastern) through nugs.net for $14.99.

Record Store Day rolls around again with two dates slated for June 12 and July 17.

We've sifted through the heap of releases to pass along some titles we think will be of particular interest to followers of this page.

Available June 12.

Jefferson Airplane - Acid Incense and Balloons. A compilation of well known, obscure and alternate takes from 1966-1971. 3,000 copies June 12.

Janis Joplin - Pearl. Picture disc. 4,250 copies.

Joni Mitchell - Archive Vol 1 (1963-1967). 15,000 copies.

Motorhead - St. Valentine's Day Massacre. 40th Anniversary picture disc. 4,000 copies.

Robert Palmer - Sneakin' Sally Through The Alley. Green vinyl. 2,500 copies.

Pearl Jam - Alive. The 30th anniversary release includes rare B sides and the bands cover of the Beatles I've Got A Feeling. 18,500 lps, 6,300 cassette copies.

Tom Petty - Angel Dream. Songs from the soundtrack to the She's The One film with four previously unreleased songs.

Steely Dan - Two Against Nature. Released for the first time on vinyl. 10,000 copies.

Joe Strummer - Junco Partner. Picture disc. 3,500 copies.

Toots & the Maytals - Funky Kingston. Split color disc release. 2,000 copies.

Ramones - Live at the Wireless Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia July 8 1980. 13,000 copies

Warren Zevon - Preludes. A first time on vinyl release culled from 126 unreleased tracks and alternate takes that originally was released on a 2 CD set in 2007. Six of the songs on this have never been previously released. Issued on sky blue vinyl and with a 20 page book. 3,000 copies.

Available July 17.

The Allman Brothers Band - The Last Note. Duale Allman's last concert with the ABB took place in Owings Mills. MD less than two weeks before the tragic motorcycle crash that took his life. 9,000 copies of the 8 song set with a recording of Stormy Monday from an Austin, Texas concert in 1971.

Canned Heat- Living The Blues. A long ago discontinued double album reappears as a French import. 2,500 copies.

Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Deja vu Alternates. A showcase of alternate versions of song that appeared on the original. 10,000 copies.

Dr. John - The Sun, Moon & Herbs 50th Anniversary. A triple lp expanded edition reissue of his 4th studio album. 3,000 copies.

Rory Gallagher - Cleveland Calling Pt. 2. A 7 song live set recorded at the Agoura in Cleveland for a radio broadcast. 2,500 copies.

The Jerry Garcia Band - Recorded live at the Warfield in San Francisco in 1990. A 5 lp set.

Grateful Dead - Olympia Theatre, Paris 5/3/1972. 6 lp set, 10,000 copies.

Ramones - Live at the Wireless Capitol Theatre, Sydney, Australia July 8 1980. 13,000 copies

Nick Mason used chunk of the money he earned from Dark Side of the Moon to fuel his other passion - exotic cars. The Pink Floyd Drummer bought a Ferrari GTO 250 and later offered the highly prized car as collateral to help his band secure funding to do its 1987 A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour. The car, now valued at more than $55 million is an understandably special occasion auto. One came up when Mason got together with fellow gearhead Brian Johnson of AC/DC. Although he's an accomplished high horsepower driver himself, not even Brain could talk Nick into giving him a turn at the wheel.

The legal standoff between Neal Schon and Jonathan Caine and two former members of Journey has come to an end. The wrangling began when Schon and Cain ousted Ross Valory and Steve Smith amid allegations that the bassist and drummer were attempting to take over the rights to the band's name. In a February, 2020 board meeting of Nightmare Productions, a corporate entity associated with the group, a vote was taken to grant Valory and Smith the right to replace Schon and Caine as officers. That action prompted the guitarist and Cain to fire them from the band, which led to Valory countersuing Schon and Cain over his dismissal. The apparently amicable settlement has Schon and Cain crediting Valory and Smith for their part in Journey's musical legacy and wishing them musical success in the future.

Journey will go on with former bassist Rand Jackson replacing Valory and Narada Michael Walden taking Smith's place. A great kicker for the story would be Valory and Smith talking Steve Perry into joining them in a new band called Sojourn or something else similar to their now former band's name.

The Eagles are rolling out vinyl editions tomorrow (4/2) of 1980's Eagles Live, 2007's Long Road Out Of Eden, and The Millennium Concert, a 29 song performance recorded at the Staples Center in LA on New Year's Eve in 1999 that was previously packaged in the 2000 box set Selected Works 1972-1999 and 2018's career spanning Legacy box.

Pearl Jam's plans to make good on UK and European dates originally planned for the summer of 2020 and later moved to this year have been scuttled again in anticipation that ongoing Covid complications will make staging them this summer too risky and complicated.

Tonight's FOX airing of episode 701 of The Simpsons features an animated Bob Seger voiced by Bob himself. The Detroit Free Press article previewing the "Uncut Femmes" episode says Seger is a Simpsons fan and recorded his lines for the show last fall. The storyline has Marge Simpson involved in a jewel robbery and somehow leads to Homer with a VIP Bob Seger backstage pass lanyard around his neck talking with Bob.

The Steve Miller Band is packaging a full concert set recorded in Landover, Maryland in the summer of 1977 for a May 14th release. The newly mixed and mastered recording features the group in peak form on a release that will be available in digital, CD and double vinyl forms. Here's Jet Airliner from Steve Miller Band Live! Breaking Ground August 3, 1977.

Billy Gibbons is back in the solo album mode saddle for a June 4 release he's titled Hardware. The ZZ Top guitarist recruited Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver veteran Matt Sorum to co-produce the album with him, Sorum also plays drums on the release. The album title is a nod to longtime ZZ Top recording engineer Joe Hardy who passed away in February of 2019 at 66. Here's a look and listen to the song West Coast Junkie from it.

Guitar great Carlos Santana says his next album is 90% done and includes some ripping guitar work from Metallica's Kirk Hammett. Downtime during the pandemic also gave Carlos time to put toward two additional albums. Speaking with ABC Audio, Santana expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work on multiple projects at 73, saying, "...because of this time that I'm allowed to just replenish and nourish". Blessings and Miracles will possibly also include songs that feature Steve Winwood and Living Colour's Corey Glover.

The Grateful Dead's 1971 self-titled double live album that came to be known as Skull & Roses gets a 50th anniversary expanded edition re-release on June 25th. The 2 CD double vinyl or digital reissue features the remastered recordings made during concerts on both coasts in March and April of the release year plus 10 songs recorded during the group's last show at the Fillmore West on July 2nd, 1971.

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Stones fans looking for a particularly cool band related item and willing to pay $686 for it can get a high quality print of one of Ronnie Wood's recent retro Stones paintings personally signed by the guitarist. The run is limited to 295 individually numbered and hand autographed prints.

Triumph will release a 40th Anniversary box set of Allied Forces. The expanded edition of the band's 1981 album drops on June 12th, the day the member of the group will be honored as Canada's Record Store Day Ambassadors.

Included in the collection are picture disc lp of the original release double vinyl albums of a 1981 Cleveland concert, a 7" 2021 tribute single, a live single featuring previously unreleased versions of Allied Forces and Magic Power recorded in Ottawa in 1982, a 24 page booklet with rare tour photos, reproduced Allied Forces tour book, poster, backstage pass, copies of hand-written lyrics to Magic Power, Fight the Good Fight and Allied Forces and three comic drawings by Rik Emmet. Canadians buying the box will also get a repro of the 111x17" poster for the group's Maple Leaf Garden concert on the tour.

The Virtual Road is the name U2 has applied to a four concert series of archived concerts being made available for streaming on the group's YouTube for the first time. The 2001 Slane Castle concert leads the series off on St. Patrick's Day. Next up is the 1983 Red Rock's Amphitheatre stop on the War tour, which streams on March 25th. Mexico City's PopMart tour set airs April 1, and a 2015 Paris concert that took place just weeks after the November terrorist attacks will stream on April 10. Each of the concerts will have short sets filmed recently by bands that did not appear on the original U2 concerts.

Yes dishes up this preview from its 30 disc box set showcasing live performances during the legendary prog group's Union tour due out May 3.

Queen's Roger Taylor has let on that there just might be recordings of David Bowie and his band doing covers of a pair of Cream songs during the 1981 sessions Under Pressure was cut during in Montreux, Switzerland. Interviewed by Record Collector, the Queen drummer said he recalls doing I Feel Free and NSU "just for a laugh" before doing the collaboration that became a huge track. Bowie's own version of I Feel Free was on his 1993 album Black Tie White Noise, but the version featuring him and Freddie Mercury together has yet to surface. We're all ears at the prospect of hearing both tracks - along with any they may have done that Roger doesn't remember.