Big Rig ROCK Report 3.10

ROCK HALL: Fan Vote Recap - Week Four

While Phish continue to swim at the top of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Fan Vote, Bad Company has overtaken Soundgarden by four-thousand votes for third place, and Joy Division + New Order have passed up Outkast for the 10th position. With close to 1.3-million votes cast, the complete order and number of votes, rounded up, is as follows:

1.Phish - 192,000

2.Billy Idol - 122,500

3.Bad Company - 119,500

4.Soundgarden - 115,500

5.Cyndi Lauper - 109,000

6.Joe Cocker - 105,000

7.Chubby Checker - 93,500

8.Black Crowes - 81,500

9.Mariah Carey - 78,000

10.Joy Division + New Order - 62,500

11.Outkast - 60,000

12.The White Stripes - 59,500

13.Oasis - 57,000

14.Mana - 22,000

You can vote once a day through April 21st at RockHall.com. The top five artists selected by the public will comprise a “fans’ ballot” that will be tallied along with the other ballots to determine the 2025 Inductees. The Class of 2025 will be announced in late April with the ceremony set for the fall in Los Angeles.

Tesla Bassist Says Rock Hall Won't Mean Much Soon

Tesla bassist Brian Wheat is sharing his thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. During an appearance on The Seth Williams Show, the musician said he thinks the Rock Hall of Fame is a "popularity contest," adding "if the Black Crowes are going to be put in it, then perhaps Tesla should be considered for it" based of the success of their 1990 lie album "Five Man Acoustical Jam." Wheat noted that his criticism wasn't a hit at the Black Crowes but rather what deems a band Hall-worthy. He said Tesla had the first successful live album, before Rod Stewart, Eric Clapton, and Nirvana, and that was their contribution to music. Wheat went on to say that the Rock Hall won't mean anything soon and asked "in general, who isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." Wheat joins a group of celebrities who have also questioned the institution's criteria, including Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, and Judas Priest.

CHER, PHISH, BECK, FRAMPTON: Love Rocks With Collabs

Tributes and collaborations were the theme at Thursday night's Love Rocks NYC benefit at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Highlights included:

·Alicia Keys paying tribute to the late Roberta Flack by doing "Killing Me Softly."

·Mavis Staples and Michael McDonald teaming up for "I’ll Take You There."

·Peter Frampton covered "Georgia On My Mind" and teamed up with Trey Anastasio of Phish and Grace Bowers for "While My Guitar Gently Weeps."

·Cher did "Walking In Memphis," "Song For The Lonely" and "Believe."

·Beck covered Prince's "1999."

·Trey Anastasio and Luke Spiller teamed up for a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times."

·And all the artists returned to the stage for a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground."

The concert raised over $4-million for God’s Love We Deliver and Project Angel Food.

PETER FRAMPTON: Shows Himself the Way To His Tribute

Peter Frampton followed up his performance on Thursday at the Love Rocks NYC benefit at the Beacon Theatre in New York City by sitting in at a tribute show to himself Saturday night at The Cutting Room in New York City. He joined Peter Baron and his band to do “Do You Feel Like We Do” and “I Don’t Need No Doctor.” (Frank Carillo, who played on Frampton’s first two solo albums, also played on “Doctor.”) The event raised money for the Peter Frampton Myositis Research Fund. (Special thanks to Maria Milito of WAXQ - Q104.3 in New York City) In 2018,

he went public with his diagnosis of Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) -- a progressive muscle disorder -- that requires him to perform sitting down and to walk with a cane. And in a related note, Frampton says his emotional support dog, Bigsby, “just got his jacket and diploma. He is now my official service pup! Come fly with me, Mr Bigs! No stopping us now.”

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Nebraska in Nebraska

Bruce Springsteen's archival concert release for March takes us back to November 15th, 2012 at the Centurylink Center in Omaha, Nebraska during his Wrecking Ball tour. That night he did four tour premieres, including three off his Nebraska albums -- "Reason to Believe," "State Trooper," and the E Street’s Band’s first performance of “Highway Patrolman” since 1985. He also did three other songs off Nebraska -- "Johnny 99," "Atlantic City" and "Open All Night" -- but ironically he didn't do the title track. You can find "State Trooper" off this live album -- Bruce E Street Omaha, NE Nov 15, 2012 -- on YouTube. To purchase the album go to Nugs.net. Nebraska is the subject of the film Deliver Me From Nowhere, which is based on Warren Zanes‘ book Deliver Me From Nowhere: The Making of Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska. It's scheduled to be released this year.

Bruce Springsteen Really Didn't Like Manfred Mann's Version Of "Blinded By The Light"

Bruce Springsteen was not a fan of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band’s cover of “Blinded by the Light,” despite its success. In a new interview with “Guitar Magazine,” guitarist Chris Thompson recalled a dinner with Springsteen in Zurich in the late 1970s where he cautiously asked for the Boss’s opinion. Springsteen dodged the question by asking about Thompson’s other band, Night, and then said, “I like that song,” referring to their hit “Hot Summer Nights.” Thompson says that now he knows just how much Bruce wasn’t a fan. “I’ve since found out that he hated it. Yeah, he really disliked it,” he shares. So what was Bruce's problem? As Thompson shares it, the Boss wasn’t fond of the fact the band changed up some of the lyrics in their version.

Willie Nelson Announces 4th Of July Picnic With Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers And More

Willie Nelson is announcing the details for his annual 4th of July Picnic and Fireworks show. According to the announcement, Bob Dylan, The Avett brothers, The Mavericks and more are set to perform during the eight-hour event in Austin, Texas.Nelson has hosted the event every year since 1973, except in 2020 as the event was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets for the singer's 4th of July Picnic and Fireworks show are available now.

Fans Can Be A Gene Simmons Roadie For A Day For $12K

Have you ever wanted to be a roadie for Gene Simmons? Have you ever wanted to spend over $12-thousand in one go? Well then the KISS star has a deal for you! Simmons is offering a special package for his upcoming solo shows, “Personal Assistant and Band Roadie for the Day,” that will set you back $12,495. The tour runs from April 3rd through May 24th, and there’s only one roadie experience being offered per show. After you plunk down the cash, you’ll spend the entire day with Simmons…including meeting him in the morning to go over the pre-show schedule, helping the band set up for the show, attending soundcheck, and grabbing a meal with Simmons himself. You also get to bring along up to three guests, get introduced in the show, get autographs, a KISS-rehearsal used bass autographed by Simmons, and more. One small note…”Tickets to the show are not included as they are sold through the individual venues,” Simmons’ website notes in the fine print.

Ted Nugent Defends Concert Return

Ted Nugent is defending his decision to return to the stage after his farewell tour in 2023. In a conversation with Eddie Trunk, the singer-guitarist said he's made it quite clear that he still has a desire to play, adding that he's never said he's going to retire. Nugent called himself an "old man" but explained that he still craves grabbing a guitar and playing occasional shows, rather than long extended tours. The musician has several shows scheduled for 2025. His first one will be on April 5th in Saint Jo, Texas. The last show is scheduled for August 30th in Paw Paw, Michigan.

Video Of Kimberly Burch Jumping From Cruise Ship Helps Clear Faster Pussycat Singer Of Wrongdoing

Kimberly Burch, fianceé of Faster Pussycat singer Taime Downe, was presumed to have died last week after she went overboard while on a Royal Caribbean cruise. It was unclear at the time how she went overboard; sources have now told “The Hollywood Reporter” that a video appears to show that Burch jumped. On top of that, former host of MTV’s ”Headbangers Ball” Riki Rachtman has shared on social media that he’s been in touch with Downe and that “There is video of [Burch] committing suicide and Tamie was cleared of all charges.”

IN OTHER NEWS

Styx drummer Todd Sucherman was hospitalized with food poisoning Friday night in Oregon, but the show in Grand Ronde, Oregon went on with the band's production manager and keyboard tech Jeff Heintz sitting in. Sucherman, who was back for Saturday's show in Auburn, Washington, says, "Jeff has always been an excellent drummer and he’s watched the show for nearly 20 years now from stage right. Thanks to Jeff for saving the night, my bandmates and crew, and the audience who was understanding and still saw a great show." Styx are now off until April 11th in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Whitesnake will release Access All Areas: Live, a box set containing six shows, on April 25th.

John Fogerty will deliver the keynote address Wednesday at the South By Southwest

conference in Austin, Texas.

Chrissie Hynde has commented on the death of David Johansen. She says he was a “friend and major contributor to music… huge inspiration. A gentleman, always well turned out (the very definition of ‘cool’), and excellent cook (Beans, rice and corn on the cob……the guy could easily have been commandeering a food truck In NYC with great success) who dazzled the world with his beautiful voice. Plus he gave The Pretenders our first gig in the U.K. supporting his band. Fly on Bro!” Johansen died on February 28th from cancer. He was 75.

Joe Walsh has issued his first comment on the sudden death of his longtime road manager,

Richard “Smokey” Wendell. He says, “There are some losses so profound that words seem meaningless. I hope to have some better ones later. I lost my buddy.” “Smokey” died of a heart attack. He was 80.

Billy Idol has posted a video on Instagram describing his new single, “Still Dancing,” off his new album, Dream Into It, which will be out on April 25th.

Michael Stipe once again joined Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy and their R.E.M. tribute band on stage for “Pretty Persuasion” Saturday night in Brooklyn, New York. Watch it on YouTube.

INXS have shared another track from Listen Like Thieves (40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), which is due out May 9th. Check out a live version of "Biting Bullets" recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall in 1986 on YouTube.

Mark Farner has released a lyric video for “Anymore,” the third single off his new album,

Closer to My Home.

The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown has now grossed $120 million. According to Billboard, it’s the eighth highest-grossing biopic with Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody topping the list with just under $911 million.