Big Rig ROCK Report 5.19 | 98.7 The Gator

Want to know more about Big Rig? Get his official bio, social pages and more!Full BioBig RigBig Rig ROCK Report 5.19May 19, 2025The Who Fires Drummer Zak Starkey Two Weeks After Assuring Fans He Still Had A Job

It’s been a wild couple of weeks for Zak Starkey and the Who. Supposedly fired last month as the band’s long-time drummer, then reinstated (or he was never fired, depending on which side was talking), Starkey is once again unemployed. In a statement, the band said, “The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20 years younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world. Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him.” Starkey’s response: “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endeavors this would be a lie. I love The Who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement.” So, more “he said/Who said.” 

PETE TOWNSHEND: 80 Is Next

Pete Townshend famously wrote “I hope I die before I get old” in The Who’s “My Generation.”

Well, despite years of drug and alcohol abuse, he’s made it to 80. Born May 19th in 1945, he reflects on what’s taken place over the last 80 years. “When the war was over my dad wasn’t present on my birth because he was over in Germany playing to our victorious troops. You know, I’m just continuing the family tradition. I just hope we remain victorious to be honest, because I think we have a great way of life and I think we’re good people and I don’t think we’ve done too much that’s wrong. And if we’re getting things wrong now, let’s try and work out how to improve that.”

SAMMY HAGAR: Nine Up, Nine Down

Sammy Hagar wrapped up The Best of All Worlds Tour Stays in Vegas residency at the Dolby Live at Park MGM Saturday night. Friday’s show was live-streamed with his buddy Kenny Chesney — in town rehearing for his 15 shows at the Sphere — joining him on “Eagles Fly.” (Hagar had to also do a full dress rehearsal Friday for camera angles, etc.)

On Saturday, instead of Hagar opening with his new song “Encore. Thank You. Goodnight.” — a tribute to Eddie Van Halen — he closed with it and opened with “Eagles Fly.” Hagar posted

a highlight video of the residency on Instagram with the caption, “Thank you for one of the best musical three weeks of my life!” He did 27 songs over nine shows, 11 of which were done every night. The breakdown is as follows:

Nine shows: “Why Can’t This Be Love,” “Top of the World,” “There’s Only One Way to Rock,” “Satch Boogie” (Joe Satriani), “Right Now,” “Panama,” “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Humans Being,” “Heavy Metal,” “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight.” and “5150.”

Eight: “Love Walks In” and “Good Enough”

Seven: “Poundcake” and “Mas Tequila”

Six: “Ain’t Talkin’ ’bout Love” w/Michael Anthony on lead vocals

Five: “Summer Nights”

Four: “Runaround”

Three: “Big Foot” and “Best of Both Worlds”

Two: “Runnin With the Devil” w/Michael Anthony on lead vocals, “Eagles Fly,” “Bad Motor Scooter” and “Amsterdam”

One: “When It’s Love,” “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” w/Michael Anthony on lead vocals, and “Rock Candy”

During his last weekend in Vegas, Hagar paid a backstage visit to The Go-Go’s Thursday at their show at The Palms Casino Resort. He then headed over to The Barbershop Cuts & Cocktails inside The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where he jumped onstage with Radio Xx, featuring Ben Carey and Bryce Soderbergh of Lifehouse, to perform “Rock Candy” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.”

FOO FIGHTERS: Boot Drummer

In a shocking move Foo Fighters have booted drummer Josh Freese. He joined the band in May 2023 as a replacement for Taylor Hawkins who passed away in March 2022, and toured with them in 2023 and 2024. Freese, who’s on the road with one of his pre-Foos bands, A Perfect Circle, posted the news Friday afternoon on Instagram. He wrote, “The Foo Fighters called me Monday night to let me know they’ve decided ‘to go in a different direction with their drummer.’ No reason was given… Regardless, I enjoyed the past two years with them, both on and off stage, and I support whatever they feel is best for the band. “In my 40 years of drumming professionally, I’ve never been let go from a band, so while I’m not angry — just a bit shocked and disappointed. But as most of you know I’ve always worked freelance and bounced between bands so, I’m fine. Stay tuned for my ‘Top 10 possible reasons Josh got booted from the Foo Fighters’ list.”

Besides A Perfect Circle, over the past decade alone Freese has been the drummer for Sting, The Offspring, Sublime With Rome, Devo and The Vandals. Foo Fighters had just announced their first concert since Dave Grohl went public about fathering a child outside his marriage last year. It’s October 4th at the Singapore Grand Prix.

Bruce Springsteen Biopic Has A Premiere Date

The biopic starring Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen now has a premiere date. “Deliver Me From Nowhere” takes the stage at theaters everywhere this fall. The film, which has the blessing and involvement of both the Boss and his manager, Jon Landau, also stars Jeremy Strong as Landau, Stephen Graham as Springsteen’s dad and Paul Walter Hauser as guitar tech Mike Batlan. Odessa Young, Gaby Hoffmann, David Krumholtz, Marc Maron, Johnny Cannizzaro, Harrison Gilbertson, Chris Jaymes, and Matthew Anthony Pellicano also star. “Deliver Me From Nowhere” debuts October 24th.

Vince Neil Splits With Long Time GF Over Cheating Allegations

Just days after it was revealed that one Mötley Crüe member’s relationship was on the rocks, it’s joined by a second one. “TMZ” reports that Vince Neil has dumped longtime girlfriend Rain Hannah over suspicions she was cheating on him. The couple have been together for 14 years, but things went south when (according to sources) one of his assistants informed Neil that Rain had been having an affair. While there is no proof this is the case, reports are that the singer was convinced enough to end things. 

BONO: Strips it Down

Bono has released a stripped-down version of U2’s “The Showman” from their 2017 album, Songs of Experience. It’s off a three-song EP of performances — Stories of Surrender — from his documentary of the same name, which will premiere on Apple TV+ on May 30th.

The EP, which also includes his performances of U2’s “Desire” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” will be available digitally on May 30th with a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl disc to follow on June 13th. An updated and abridged paperback version of hi