Big Rig Report on Rock Music 5.7 – BIG 105.9
Metallica recently enlisted their former bassist, Jason Newsted, to create an unboxing video for their 1997 album ReLoad. Scheduled for release on June 26th, the set is a comprehensive package that includes five LPs, one seven-inch, 15 CDs, four DVDs, a 128-page book, and various memorabilia. Interested fans can watch Newsted discussing the set on YouTube.
Meanwhile, as The Rolling Stones launched their latest album, Foreign Tongues, with a party in Brooklyn, Paul McCartney held a listening event for his new album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, at Abbey Road Studios in London. Addressing a group of 50 fans, McCartney reflected on the songs for 90 minutes in Studio Two, where The Beatles recorded most of their music. McCartney shared that the album draws heavily from his past experiences, stating, “It occurred to me that that’s where your big bank of information is… [The past] is a very rich field of information.” During the session, he even played an acoustic guitar to showcase the main guitar sequence in “Life Can Be Hard,” though he humorously admitted to not practicing beforehand.
McCartney’s album will be highlighted in listening parties hosted by over 150 independent record stores from May 29th through the 31st. Attendees will have the chance to listen to the album, receive a free postcard, an exclusive tote bag with a vinyl purchase, and a special prize draw. The upcoming single, “Home to Us,” featuring Ringo Starr, is set for release on Friday, and McCartney will perform on the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 16th. Rumors suggest a guest appearance on the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on May 21st.
Grand Funk Railroad faced a change last week as their former lead vocalist, Max Carl, retired due to unforeseen medical issues. With an opportunity for the band’s original lineup reunion, bassist Mel Schacher expressed a desire to have the original band members collaborate once more, including Mark Farner. However, ongoing legal matters have prevented significant progress in this regard. Grand Funk’s last performance with the original trio took place in 1998, and the current lineup is set to continue touring with scattered shows through November 13th in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
Deep Purple is gearing up for the release of their 24th studio album, Splat!, on July 3rd, marking their first release since 2024’s =1. Singer Ian Gillan has hinted at the album being a loose conceptual piece exploring the transformation of humanity into a “metaphysical state,” emphasizing the optimistic undertones despite the seeming darkness of the theme. Gillan also described Splat! as the band’s heaviest material in a while, harking back to their classic sound from the late ’60s to early ’70s. Purple is set to embark on a European tour in June, followed by a U.S. tour commencing on August 4th in Raleigh, North Carolina.