'Imagine' By Julian Lennon And Nuno Bettencourt

Several months ago, Julian Lennon and Extreme's Nuno Bettencourt joined forces to perform "Imagine" as part of the Global Citizen social media fundraising campaign Stand Up for Ukraine.

It marks the first time Julian - son of legendary Beatle John Lennon - performed the song for other people. This week, the single was released on vinyl. "Imagine" is on white 7" vinyl and definitely looks like a collector's piece.

Imagine, 7” Etched White Vinyl Available for Pre-Order Now 🤍 🎼 https://t.co/y7XzpwSjPq

Co-produced by @nunobettencourt pic.twitter.com/c3TWMD57zy

— Julian Lennon (@JulianLennon) October 4, 2022

Quiet Riot, 'I Can't Hold On' -- New Track

I certainly did not expect a new Quiet Riot song featuring Kevin DuBrow on vocals and Frankie Banali on drums - but here we are. It was thought the song "I Can't Hold On" was lost forever, until it was found on an old iPod back in 2021. The song is about 20 years old and it is pretty amazing. In fact, "I Can't Hold On" might be one of the best QR songs, period.

After the song was found on the iPod. It was in demo form and never completed. Guitarist Alex Grossi and DuBrow wrote the song together and the remastered, finished track now also features Rudy Sarzo. You may recall Sarzo was in Quiet Riot back in the Metal Health days - and he's in the band with Grossi today.

A video for the song with old photos of DuBrow and Banali are below. The clip choked me up a little. The live Rocklahoma footage hit me extra hard because 1) I got to see that performance and 2) DuBrow was dead just four months later and I covered his passing in the news show I was producing at the time.

Welcome To Rockville 2023 Lineup Announced

It feels a little early, but here's another summer festival announcement! Welcome to Rockville is planned for May 18, 19, 20, 21 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (The fest actually happens at the famous Daytona Speedway).

My loves at first listen Conquer Divide will play this event. Headliners are Tool, Slipknot, Pantera, and Avenged Sevenfold. Alice Cooper, I Prevail, Bullet For My Valentine are on the bill as is Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening and Asking Alexandria. I would love to go the first two days but we'll see. I feel like four days is too long for these sorts of events, but I'm old. Maybe I'll get lucky and Conquer Divide will play the Ohio version of this festival called Sonic Temple. (It used to be known as Rock on the Range).

Looks like 4-day GA with fees is around $300 a ticket. Single day tickets are around $140 with fees. VIP packages are available as is layaway. Click the post below for ticket information.

M3 Rock Festival Announces 2023 Lineup

M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, Maryland is back! This year's event will take place May 6 and 7 at Merriweather Post Pavilion. Columbia, Maryland is close to Baltimore.

Bands include STYX, KIX, Slaugher, Winger, Great White, Extreme, Loudness, Child's Play and more. See the poster below for all the acts. Two-day tickets are on sale Friday via Ticketmaster (ugh!). The event is right after the Monsters of Rock Cruise and many of the bands are the same, which makes sense from a booking point-of-view. It would be nice to know pricing but apparently that information has not yet been released.

Adam Lambert Drops New Single, Announces Album

Adam Lambert (Glambert!) dropped a new single and video this morning. It's a cover of "Ordinary World" originally made famous by Duran Duran. The track is probably my favorite Duran Duran song and to hear Adam's take on it is amazing.

"Ordinary World" will be on Adam's upcoming album High Drama. The release will be a covers album. This morning, Adam also released "Mad About The Boy" on digital platforms. It was originally recorded by Noel Coward.

Have a listen to "Ordinary World" and let me know what you think!

Another Summer Tour (Southern Rock Edition)

I've had a frustrating morning so maybe I'm feeling more grouchy that normal, but this tour announcement (post below)  does nothing for me. In fact, I even rolled my eyes. Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top will tour together this summer and Uncle Kracker will provide support. 

I suppose this could be a fun night of nostalgia but ZZ Top are not exciting live and I've never seen Skynyrd (in any iteration) -- but this bill just feels past its prime to me. Even the tour name "Sharp Dressed Simple Man" irks me. Like, is that a thing? I mean, I get where the title comes from, but come on. 

Maybe I should go back to bed and start this day over! 

Lynyrd Skynyrd will be joined by @ZZTop in Summer 2023 for the Sharp Dressed Simple Man tour! Presale starts tomorrow with code SKYNYRD50. pic.twitter.com/vfGvbr58vL

— Lynyrd Skynyrd (@Skynyrd) December 12, 2022

Sunday's Best: Week 50, 2022

Last week felt like a year for me. I working remotely from Las Vegas while Eric attended a conference. I'm over Vegas anyway and add in working on eastern time while being three hours behind plus Aerosmith being canceled and it ended up one dud of a trip.

Thankfully we are home and catching up on rest. Plus my Bengals won today in an odd game. Even the vibe inside the stadium was bizarre. People were crabby and that is not common! I'll chalk it up to holiday stress.

By this point, I'm pretty used to all the music that is played during games but today a new track made the cut. Eric and I both looked at each other with huge eyes when it came on. All of a sudden "Stand Up" was playing. I wonder how many people knew it was Steel Dragon? Well, Jeff Scott Soto anyway. Appreciating the awesome song - in an unexpected place - is our Sunday's Best for this week. I really need to rewatch Rockstar. Such a good, goofy movie.