Rock
Page: 84
Green Day has a plethora of hits to their name, but for many fans, “American Idiot” towers above the rest. That single — a protest song of the George W. Bush administration that eventually inspired a Tony-winning Broadway musical — has become a key example of contemporary politically conscious tracks, and many expected a similar song from the Grammy-winning band following the election of former President Donald Trump in 2016.
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, bassist Mike Dirnt explains why the band chose to hold off on addressing Trump in their music.
“‘The American Dream Is Killing Me’ [from the band’s forthcoming Saviors album] was written by Billie [Joe Armstrong] almost four years ago. But we all knew it was just low-hanging fruit. We’re not a parody of who we are, and songs like that need time to be fleshed out,” Dirnt said. “If that means just sitting back and letting life happen, so be it. And it was one of the last things we recorded.”
The band’s new record, Saviors, arrives Jan. 19, and “The American Dream Is Killing Me” served as the set’s lead single. The song has since peaked atop Rock Airplay and at No. 22 on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. Dirnst notes that the track’s title was initially a line Billie was kicking around “a while back ago,” but the band agreed that it was “just not the right time” for that particular sentiment.
“I think it’s a wider statement than Trump. It’s more important than him,” Dirnst asserts. “It speaks to the fact that Billie’s dad was a Teamster truck driver, and his mom was a waitress, and somehow they could afford to raise five kids and buy a home, and that just doesn’t work for everybody anymore. We are back-asswards right now.”
Saviors marks Green Day’s 14th studio album. The rockers have released three additional singles from the record, including “Dilemma,” “One Eyed Bastard” and “Look Ma, No Brains!” The band is set to embark on a North American stadium tour in support of the record — in addition to the 30th anniversary of Dookie and the 20th anniversary of American Idiot — with support acts such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and The Linda Lindas.
Recently, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong trolled Trump during the band’s performance at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest (Dec. 31). He altered the original “I’m not part of a redneck agenda” lyric in “American Idiot,” to “I’m not part of the MAGA agenda.”
Green Day has earned 11 top 10 entries on the Billboard 200, including the chart-toppers American Idiot (three weeks), 21st Century Breakdown (one week) and Revolution Radio (one week). On the Billboard Hot 100, the beloved band has notched nine career entries, including the top 10 hits “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (No. 2) and “Wake Me Up When September Ends” (No. 6).
Shinedown extends its record for the most No. 1s in the history of Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart as “A Symptom of Being Human” rises to the top of the Jan. 20-dated survey.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The song becomes the band’s 19th No. 1 on the chart. The four-piece first reigned in November 2005 with “Save Me,” and had last led with “Daylight” in August 2022.
With 19 Mainstream Rock Airplay rulers, Shinedown extends its lead over Three Days Grace, which boasts 17. The chart began in 1981.
Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:
19, Shinedown
17, Three Days Grace
14, Five Finger Death Punch
13, Foo Fighters
13, Metallica
13, Van Halen
12, Disturbed
12, Godsmack
10, Tom Petty (solo and with the Heartbreakers)
10, Volbeat
Concurrently, “A Symptom of Being Human” holds at No. 16 on Alternative Airplay, after reaching No. 15 two weeks earlier. It’s Shinedown’s first top 20 hit on the chart since “Bully” peaked at No. 12 in 2012.
On the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart, “A Symptom of Being Human” ranks at No. 5 after rising to No. 4 two weeks ago, with 4.6 million audience impressions, up 3%, Jan. 5-11, according to Luminate.
The song also crossed over to adult top 40 radio, having logged a No. 15 peak on the Adult Pop Airplay chart last August.
On the most recently published, Jan. 13-dated Hot Rock & Alternative Songs tally — which incorporates streams, airplay and sales data — “A Symptom of Being Human” placed at its No. 29 high. In addition to its airplay, the song earned 1.1 million official U.S. streams and sold 1,000 downloads Dec. 29-Jan. 4.
“A Symptom of Being Human” is the fourth single from Planet Zero, Shinedown’s seventh studio album. The set debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart in July 2022 and has earned 248,000 equivalent album units to date.
All Billboard charts dated Jan. 20 will update on Billboard.com on Wednesday, Jan. 17, a day later than usual due to the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday Jan. 15.
The Black Crowes are back at it. The once battling Robinson brothers go back to their dirty southern blooze roots on their upcoming 10th studio album, Happiness Bastards, due out on March 15. The first new studio record from singer Chris Robinson and guitarist Rich Robinson in 15 years comes after the siblings reunited in 2019 for a string of more than 150 shows in 20 countries in celebration of the 30th anniversary of their breakthrough 1990 album Shake Your Money Maker.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
“Call it brotherly love or music destiny that brought them back together, the highly anticipated record consecrating the reunion of this legendary band just may be the thing that saves rock & roll,” read a statement announcing the project. “In a time where the art form is buried beneath the corporate sheen of its successors, The Black Crowes are biting back with the angst of words left unsaid penned on paper and electrified by guitar strings, revealing stripped, bare-boned rock & roll. No gloss, no glitter, just rhythm and blues at it’s very best – gritty, loud, and in your face.”
The follow-up to 2009’s Before the Frost… Until the Freeze was recorded with producer Jay Joyce in early 2023 by the Robinson brothers along with longtime bassist Sven Pipien.
The group previewed the album slated for release on their own Silver Arrow Records on Friday morning (Jan. 12) with raucous first single “Wanting and Waiting.” The classic slice of hip-shimmy boogie blues finds Chris Robinson singing, “It’s been a month of Sundays since I could fake a smile/ Trying to lose my lonely in self-imposed exile/ Trying to stay friendly but feeling so hostile/ It’s like I’m cold to touch, mortuary style,” before busting into the stomping, hand-clapping, gospel-assisted chorus, “I’m nothing but lonely/ Waiting and wanting/ Wanting and waiting for you/ Ohh, it’s true.”
The 10-track album also features a duet with country singer Lainey Wilson on the fiery Southern gothic ballad “Wilted Rose.”
In a statement, Chris said, “Happiness Bastards is our love letter to rock ‘n’ roll. Rich and I are always writing and creating music; that has never stopped for us, and it is always where we find harmony together. This record represents that.” Brother Rich added, “This album is a continuation of our story as a band. Our years of experience writing and making music and touring the world are represented in this record, and we were brilliantly guided by one of the best producers in the business, Jay Joyce. I am incredibly proud of what we put together.”
The band will hit the road this spring for dates in North America, the U.K. and Europe, with dates to be announced soon.
Listen to “Wanting and Waiting” and see the Happiness Bastards track list below.
[embedded content]
Happiness Bastards track list:
“Bedside Manners”
“Rats and Clowns”
“Cross Your Fingers”
“Wanting and Waiting”
“Wilted Rose” (feat. Lainey Wilson)
“Dirty Cold Sun”
“Bleed It Dry”
“Flesh Wound”
“Follow the Moon”
“Kindred Friend”
Olivia Rodrigo and Kelly Clarkson grew up in different decades, but they both have one musical icon that they love in common. In a new clip from the “Vampire” singer’s interview on The Kelly Clarkson show, the duo discuss their mutual “hero,” Alanis Morissette. “She’s the reason why I’m a songwriter. I was like, ‘Oh […]
The annual MusiCares Charity Relief Auction will take place live for the first time ever from the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles (and online) on Feb. 4. The event that will unfold on the same day as this year’s Grammy Awards will feature a stellar selection of one-of-a-kind items from many of this year’s nominees, as well as some other past Grammy-winning stars.
Among the more than 75 unique collectibles on the list are late Fleetwood Mac singer Christine McVie’s Yamaha C3 “Songbird” baby grand piano (estimate: $20,000-30,000), which she played on stage for two decades during the band’s concert encores. Bidding will also take place on a Baby Taylor Swift model acoustic guitar (estimate: $5,000-$7,000), a signed hardcover edition of Paul McCartney’s two-volume The Lyrics: 1965 to Present (estimate: $1,000-$2,000) and Metallica singer/guitarist James Hetfield’s signed black ESP LTD Vulture electric flying V guitar (estimate: $4,000-$6,000).
Other items on the auction list include:
— Harry Styles’ 1999 Gretsch White Falcon hollow-body electric guitar, signed and dated 2023 with a heart and swirl drawing
— Cure singer Robert Smith’s black RS-1000 Stage Artist Edition signature Schecter acoustic guitar — played on stage at the band’s May 2023 Hollywood Bowl show
— A pair of Dr. Dre’s all-white Nike Air Force 1 Low ’07 signed sneakers
— Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh’s signed 2015 Fender Hot Noiseless Stratocaster guitar from his personal collection
— Bad Bunny signed 2011 Schecter Diamond Series model T S/H-1 semi-hollow body guitar
— Lionel Richie’s gold sequined performance bomber jacket featured “All Night Long” in white Swarovski crystals across the back
— Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash’s signed 2023 Gibson Les Paul Anaconda Burst guitar with green flame maple top with Slash’s “Scully” doodle
— Coldplay singer Chris Martin’s colorful handwritten setlist from the band’s show at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in Oct. 2023
The auction will also feature signed “Cleopatra” lyrics from the Lumineers, Eagles guitarist/singer Don Felder’s 2010 Gibson guitar, DJ Khaled’s signed Les Paul studio guitar, Willie Nelson and Friends signed 2023 Martin D-10 acoustic guitar (featuring the signatures of Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Bob Weir, Snoop Dogg, Beck, Tom Jones and more), Jon Batiste’s signed Hohner Instructor 32 melodica and James Brown’s custom-tailored navy jacket with blue and black floral brocade lining and an embroidered label featuring the late soul singer’s name, plus more items to be revealed in the coming weeks.
There are four ways to bid for the items, including online and live in real time here, over the phone, in person at the auction site and an advance absentee bid available here. In addition to the Julien’s and MusiCares sites, the livestream will fun on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram Live.
All auction proceeds will benefit the MusiCares program, which provides the music community with services in physical and mental health, addiction recovery, unforeseen personal emergencies and disaster relief.
The 2024 Grammy Awards are set for Feb. 4 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
Forget looking at the stars, look at that view count! Coldplay‘s “Yellow” has become the band’s latest music video to join the Billion Views Club. Their beloved 2000 breakthrough hit — which they opened their 2016 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance with — is the band’s fifth music video to collect over 1 billion views […]
Paramore is kicking off the new year with a special project with A24. The band announced Wednesday (Jan. 10) that it will be one of 16 artists to contribute a song to upcoming tribute album Stop Making Sense put together by the production company, sharing a sneak peek of its corresponding music video on Instagram. In […]
Olivia Rodrigo is open to going back to the start. The “Vampire” singer who got her start as a kid and teen actor on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and Bizaardvark told Variety magazine at the Academy’s Governors Awards on Tuesday night (Jan. 9) that she’d totally be up for a return to […]
This summer’s Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will feature headlining sets from Post Malone, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fred Again.. and Pretty Lights. The annual blowout event camping fest on the ‘Roo Farm in Manchester, TN will take place on June 13-16 will also host Megan Thee Stallion, Cage the Elephant, Maggie Rogers, Melanie Martinez, Carly Rae Jepsen, Diplo, T-Pain, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Diplo and Jon Batiste, among many others.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
The acts will take to 10 stages for the four-day event featuring sets running into the early morning, as well as sunrise performances. Other artists on this year’s poster include: Mean Girls star Reneé Rapp, Cigarettes After Sex, Fisher, Dominic Fike, Parcels, Idles, Joey Bada$$, Lizzy McAlpine, Interpol, Taking Back Sunday, Gary Clark Jr., Sean Paul, Gwar, BigXthaPlug, Michigander, The Mars Volta, Key Glock, Grouplove, Teezo Touchdown, Thundercat and Brittany Howard.
In an announcement on Tuesday morning (Jan. 9), organizers revealed that for the first time in the event’s history the main What Stage will be fired up for a special headlining set on Thursday night by Pretty Lights, who will also return for a second sunrise set on The Other Stage on the final night; Sunday’s lineup will also mark the only 2024 U.S. festival appearance by Fred again..
This year’s SuperJam (June 15) in the That Tent, “One More With Feeling(s) — The Dashboard Confessional Emo Superjam,” will feature a performance from the Chris Carrabba-fronted band with to-be-announced (as well as unannounced) guests.
Pre-sale tickets will be available starting Thursday (Jan. 11) at 11 a.m ET, with fans encouraged to sign up now for a pre-sale code here; a public on-sale will follow if any tickets remain. Ticket package options include a 4-day general admission, 4-day GA+, 4-day VIP, 4-day platinum and a variety of other camping and parking options starting at $25 down with a payment plan.
Bonnaroo 2024 will feature more than 150 performances across the campground, 150 food vendors (including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options) and free water stations.
Check out the 2024 poster below.
An all-star tribute concert to Sinéad O’Connor and Pogues singer Shane MacGowan will take place at Carnegie Hall in New York on St. Patrick’s Day. The March 20 show will feature sets from Cat Power, Glen Hansard, Dropkick Murphys, The Mountain Goats, Amanda Palmer and David Gray. The special event, title “Sinéad & Shane at […]