2021 has ended and now a chance to start all over again.

Happy New Year, 2022.

There was a ton of rock news in 2021, here are some stories that stuck with me.

Beatles related stories. In May, Paul McCartney was honored by the Royal Mail with 12 postage stamps, featuring photographs from the making of his solo albums and records with Wings … takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

Disney + announced in May that Peter Jackson’s much-anticipated Beatles documentary “Get Back” would premiere over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. And it did, and I thought it was amazing. Long Live Rock!

In October, Paul McCartney seemed to diss the Rolling Stones in an interview, calling them, “a blues cover band,” adding, “I think our net was cast a bit wider than theirs.” During the Stones’ “No Filter” show a in Los Angeles, Mick Jagger responded, joking that McCartney was in the crowd, adding, “he’s going to help us — he’s going to join us in a blues cover later.” Well at least it keeps us talking.

Paul McCartney revealed that he would no longer be signing an autograph or taking selfies with fans, saying it “struck me as a bit strange.” So, I guess I missed my chance, again.

Other rock highlight for me was about The Rolling Stones. Saddened by the loss of Charlie ... Legendary Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts passed away at the age of 80. Charlie had left the Stones' No Filter tour to have a procedure and never returned. The band said in a statement that he "passed away peacefully in a London hospital...surrounded by his family." The band later shared a tribute video Charlie soundtracked by their song “If You Can’t Rock Me.”

In September, The Rolling Stones returned to the stage kicking off the next leg of their “No Filter” tour in St. Louis, Missouri. On stage, the band paid tribute to Charlie Watts.

Keith Richards revealed the band was retiring “Brown Sugar” since the classic references slavery in the lyrics … or did that change later?

Blues band or not, in December the Rolling Stones topped Pollstar’s year-end touring numbers with the “No Filter” bringing in the most dough, $115.5 million. Proving they are still the greatest rock n’ roll band!

More rock news highlights … In July, Jim Morrison was honored with a ceremony at Paris’ Pere Lachaise cemetery. Fans from around the world gathered for the 50th anniversary of his death. Has it really been 50 years?

In September, Metallica celebrated the 30th anniversary of their iconic “The Black Album” reissuing a remastered version of the album, including a deluxe box set with a hardcover book, multiple live albums, demos and rarities DVDs and more.

In October, David Lee Roth announced he would do several shows in Las Vegas at Sin City’s House of Blues starting on New Year’s Eve, he revealed that he was retiring after the shows. Later, he added more show but then cancelled due to continuing Covid concerns.

Eddie Van Halen was honored in his hometown of Pasadena, California with a memorial plaque at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

The 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony took place in Cleveland inducting Tina Turner, Foo Fighters, Carole King, The Go-Go's, Jay-Z and Todd Rundgren.

And in December, didn’t we all react to the Nirvana lawsuit about the infamous “Nevermind” album cover. Spencer Elden the “naked baby” on the cover, claimed it was, "child sexual exploitation." Lawyers for Nirvana responded to the lawsuit saying the claims were “not serious” since he’s been profiting off his album cover fame for years. Infamy, fame is a funny thing.

Let’s see what 2022 brings … Happy New Year!

Joe Bonadonna

About Joe Bonadonna