ALICE IN CHAINS, METALLICA: A Hetfield-Cantrell Pairing?
Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains admitted that he and James Hetfield of Metallica have casually talked about writing together. Cantrell revealed it in an interview with Metal Hammer where he asked fan-submitted questions. Cantrell appeared on Metallica's 1998 covers album Garage Inc. and has made guest appearances with Hetfield and other Metallica members at special benefit shows, so a fan wondered if a writing collaboration might happen. Cantrell said, “James and I have talked about it, kind of. We never had a formal conversation, but I’ve jammed with him at Kirk [Hammett’s] place. I’ve even spent a night or two at his house, and we’ve ended up with guitars in the kitchen and on the porch. It’s something I’d be really curious about, even to just write a song with him." "As for whether it’d turn into something more than that, he’s got a pretty demanding day job. Ha ha! So I’d understand if it never comes to be."
JACK WHITE, METALLICA: Let's Trade Guitars!
Jack White and Kirk Hammett of Metallica started off the new year by trading guitars.
On Sunday, White posted a photo with a remake of the famous "Greeny" guitar, once owned by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, that Hammett had added to his collection a few years ago.
Whote wrote, "Guitar slaying maestro Kirk Hammett of Metallica was kind enough to send me one of his new remakes of the famous "Greeny" guitar the original of which now resides with him. Owned by Peter Green, and Gary Moore, it is well known for its accidental out of phaseness from the neck pickup being upside down and wired 'wrong' etc. You really can hear it up around the 15th fret in my opinion, that's where it sings. So, of course I had to send Kirk a fresh new Triplecaster in the interest of reciprocity! Thanks again sir." Then Hammett posted a photo with White's Triplecaster with the caption, "Thanks so much Jack White for such a great cool innovative, fun Triplecaster guitar!! I love it so much Greeny is getting a bit jealous!!!"
NEIL PEART: Five Years Gone
Today (Tuesday, January 7th) marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Rush drummer Neil Peart. The announcement came three days later -- on January 10th -- that he had passed in Santa Monica, California at age 67. The cause was brain cancer, which he'd had for three years and sworn all those he told to secrecy. He is survived by his wife Carrie and his daughter Olivia. Peart, acclaimed as one of the most influential drummers of his era, was a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame member along with his bandmates Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. The band retired from the road in 2015 because Peart wanted to spend more time with his family.
Rush (Almost) Extended Their Farewell Tour
Rush’s 2015 farewell tour nearly extended beyond its planned 35 shows…but drummer Neil Peart insisted things had to end. It turns out…he really wanted to retire! Geddy Lee shares in a new “Classic Rock” interview “I’d pushed really hard to get more gigs...I felt like I let our British and European fans down,” but Peart wanted to stick to the limited number of performance they had. Alex Lifeson added, however, that Peart briefly considered adding more dates before a painful foot infection made it nearly impossible. “He could barely walk to the stage at one point…They got him a golf cart to drive him to the stage. And he played a three-hour show, at the intensity he played every single show,” Lifeson shares.
RUSH: For Sale
A 2004 BMW motorcycle originally owned by the late Neil Peart is being sold by Mecum Auctions on February 1st in Las Vegas. He rode the bike between Rush shows that year on their R30 tour. Expected to sell for between $40- and $50,000, it comes with the original bill of sale signed by Peart, a worn canvas tank bag and two of his used drumsticks. He documented his 2004 travels on the bike in his 2006 book, Roadshow: Landscape with Drums – A Concert Tour by Motorcycle.
Peart was also a collector of vintage cars and in August 2021, six of the cars were auctioned at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Pebble Beach, California for a total of $3,967,000. They were:
· Black 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 - $1,160,000 (Well above the estimated price of $900- to $1,000,000)
· 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400 S - $1,325,000 (Estimate was between $1.2- and $1,500,000)
· 1965 Maserati Mistral Spider - $522,000 (Below the estimate of $575- to $650,000)
· 1964 Jaguar E-Type Series I 3.8-Litre Coupe - $318,000 (Well above the estimate of $140- to $160,000)
· 1973 Maserati Ghibli 4.9 SS Coupe - $274,000 (Estimate was between $250- and $300,000)
· 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Split-Window Coupe - $368,000 (Well above estimate of $150- to $180,000)
Peart wrote about his love of the cars in his final book, Silver Surfers, which was published last November -- almost five years after his death from brain cancer on January 7th, 2020. He was 67.
U2: New Song First?
The Edge says U2 may release a new song "very soon." He broke the news during an appearance on the Sodajerker on Songwriting podcast while taking about how much the band likes working together in the studio. He said, "We never turned it into work. We’ve always had fun. I just love making music and it’s still a thrill being around Adam [Clayton] and Larry
[Mullen] and Bono when we’re working together. “And I have to tell you, we’re working on a lot of new songs. There might be a new U2 song happening very soon, which you’ll hear about... Can’t say any more than that, but we’re in a great place creatively.” U2's last new song was “Atomic City” in 2023. Their last album of original material was 2017's Songs of Experience.
"A Complete Unknown" Comes Up Empty At Golden Globes
"A Complete Unknown" is a complete washout at the Golden Globes. The Bob Dylan biopic was up for three awards in the Drama Motion Picture category Sunday night. Best Actor nominee Timothee Chalamet [[ Timothy SHAHL-uh-may ]] lost out to Adrien Brody, while Best Supporting Actor nominee Edward Norton was beaten out by Kieran Culkin. Chalamet portrayed Dylan, while Norton played Pete Seeger. And "A Complete Unknown" came up short in its bid for Best Picture, which went to "The Brutalist." The 2025 Golden Globes ceremony was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Peter Frampton Finally Feeling Respected
Peter Frampton no longer considers himself the Rodney Dangerfield of rock and roll. In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, Frampton says his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was the crowning moment of a tremendous 2024. He said he's finally feeling respected as a musician, adding that "It's been very gratifying getting to this point."Along with touring throughout much of 2024, Frampton said he's also been writing and recording new music."If I'm not inspired by what happened in 2024, I'll never be inspired."
BLONDIE: Likes to Flirt...at Home Depot?
Debbie Harry of Blondie doesn't think she could start a new relationship at her age, but that doesn't stop her from flirting. Harry tells The Times of London, “Home Depot is where I do all my flirting. There are some big, strong men there... I found somebody there I thought was really sexy. He was working in the garden department. But he was busy. We just sort of looked at each other and did that [look]." Harry, who turns 80 on July 1st, adds, “I don’t walk around thinking every minute, ‘Oh God, I’m going be 80’ -- but that’s sort of how I feel. My mother used to say in her head she was 25 and I’m the same. But thinking about it all the time could be your downfall. And I don’t really want the same kind of life I did when I was younger."
“I’ve done that! That’s the beauty of aging -- you know what it’s about. You have it in your heart and soul and your memory bank...or does that sound like an excuse? Should I go out and party every night?”
Doctors Give Julian Lennon "All Clear" Sign
Doctors have given Julian Lennon the "all clear" sign following his recent skin cancer scare. Lennon posted the news on his Instagram account and urged everyone to get themselves checked out. Last month, the 61-year-old son of the late John Lennon underwent emergency surgery after his dermatologist in Los Angeles informed him that tests found melanoma.Lennon was first diagnosed with skin cancer a few years earlier.
Boston Calling Unveils 2025 Lineup With Luke Combs, Fall Out Boy, And Dave Matthews Band
The lineup for Boston Calling 2025 is out. Fall Out Boy, Luke Combs, and Dave Matthews Band are set to headline the three day festival in Allston, Massachusetts. It goes down on Memorial Day weekend from May 23rd through the 25th. Other acts on the lineup include Vampire Weekend, Avril Lavigne, Cage The Elephant, T-Pain and more. Tickets for Boston Calling 2025 go on sale tomorrow on the festival's website.
IN OTHER NEWS
Elton John has posted a video on Instagram of himself and Brandi Carlile presenting the Golden Globe Sunday for Best Score, which went to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for Challengers. Elton started his speech by talking about his “regressive eyesight,” saying “it’s not as bad as it seems” before jokingly introducing Brandi as Rihanna. Elton also posted photos from the ceremony.
Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May has posted on Instagram a video from last week of what he calls the “Old Moon in the Young Moon's arms." If you look closely at the crescent moon you can faintly see a full moon, which he says is “sunlight reflected from our own planet Earth. If you were standing on that part of the moon, it would be night time, but you'd see a very bright, pretty much fully illuminated Earth in the sky - a 'Full Earth" you might say. That beautiful bright crescent that we're is the part of the Moon directly lit by the Sun…”
REO Speedwagon singer Kevin Cronin is taking time off vacationing in the British Virgin Islands with his wife Lisa. He posted a photo on his socials.
Actor Bill Murray, backed by the blues band Blood Brothers, started a six-city tour last Friday in Chicago which saw him do covers of songs by Bob Dylan (“Like a Rolling Stone”), The Kinks (“Tired of Waiting”), Wilson Pickett (“Midnight Hour”) and The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (“Born in Chicago”). Up next is San Francisco for two nights on January 29th and 30th.
Bruce Springsteen and The Go-Go’s' Kathy Valentine guest on Life, Death and Dennis Hopper, a concept album about the actor from The Waterboys. It will be out on April 4th.
Warren Haynes did Spin's "5 Albums I Can't Live Without," and picked Willie Dixon's The Chess Box, Ray Charles's True to Life, Steely Dan's The Royal Scam, Bob Dylan's Oh Mercy, and Miles Davis's Nefertiti.