This special run of shows will see Daltrey backed by his renowned nine-piece band, featuring long-time Who collaborator Simon Townshend on guitar and vocals. Roger Daltrey has been performing with his current nine-piece band since 2018. This ensemble joined him for the release and promotion of his solo album As Long As I Have You. With the group, Daltrey has focused on bringing new textures and richer sounds on old material, compared to the rawer edge of his and The Who’s earlier career, including incorporating Katie Jacoby’s violin on arrangements.

Legendary rock singer Roger Daltrey will be hitting the road in 2025 on a special solo tour packed with classic The Who songs, solo hits and his now-famous Q&A sessions, in which he opens up to the fans who have been with him throughout the decades.
In a run of unmissable… pic.twitter.com/DpDMi83p97

— The Who (@TheWho) November 11, 2024

Daltrey said in a press release via The Who’s website: “Here we go again! After touring the US with this band of phenomenal musicians, I can’t wait to get back on the road in the UK with these shows. It’s a joy to be on stage performing—up close and personal for the audience, chatting with them and playing familiar songs in an unfamiliar way.”

Daltrey’s solo career began in 1973 with his debut single, Giving It All Away, which reached number five on the UK charts. His most recent release As Long As I Have You was well reviewed and achieved a top-10 spot in the UK. Daltrey’s solo discography grew with albums like Ride a Rock Horse (1975) and One of the Boys (1977), which showcased the singer’s comfort in a range of genres. Under a Raging Moon (1985), his tribute to The Who’s late drummer Keith Moon, is one of his most celebrated solo works, featuring contributions from prominent drummers like Stewart Copeland and Carl Palmer. The album’s title track, along with “After the Fire,” written by Daltrey’s The Who bandmate Pete Townshend, became fan favourites.

Meanwhile, Pete Townshend has confirmed that The Who will “definitely” return in 2025, though the specifics remain undisclosed. In recent interviews, Townshend hinted that the band may depart from its recent orchestral tours to explore a rawer, smaller-band format. Reflecting on the future, Townshend expressed a desire to revisit an earlier sound and an earlier ethos, saying: “We’re eager to make a noise and make a mess and make mistakes.”

The in-store tour will showcase previously unheard tracks from Dreams on Toast, marking the first live performances of the material. The concerts are scheduled for December 10th in London, December 11th in Nottingham, and December 12th in Liverpool. Rough Trade itself has recently opened a new store in the heartland of London’s music scene Denmark Street.

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This initiative comes amid a broader album release campaign that has already introduced Dreams on Toast’s lead single, “The Longest Kiss’. The infectious track, which recalls the 1970s camp pop of Queen and Paul McCartney, pairs Hawkins’ signature falsetto and humour with jaunty piano and guitars. Hawkins has described the track’s inspiration in vivid terms, telling Clash that he credited the natural beauty of Nairn in Scotland, where he conceived the lyrics, with invigorating his musical creativity.

Hawkins’ promotion of the album has been characteristically theatrical. Reflecting on Dreams on Toast‘s creative process, he spoke of divine inspiration with tongue firmly in cheek. “You know that thing when God’s breath tickles your soul and tells you to create?” Hawkins quipped in the album’s announcement. “Yeah, makes me giggle too. But you can’t resist. God might not be the power she once was, but say what you like about her, she knows damn well that what the world needs now is rock sweet rock.”

Hailing from Lowestoft in Suffolk, the band’s explosive debut Permission to Land in 2003 propelled them to rapid fame, driven by the success of the single ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’. After sporadic releases for the next ten years, Dreams on Toast will mark the group’s third LP release in five years, as they continue to blend camp humour with heavy riffs and classic rock pastiche.

Following this brief in-store run, The Darkness will embark on a nationwide arena tour in March 2025, aiming to reach a broader audience and showcasing their latest works on a grander stage. The UK leg of the tour will encompass 17 dates, culminating in a final performance at London’s OVO Wembley Arena on 29th March. Notably, Northern Irish indie-rock band Ash, who supported The Darkness on their 2003 Permission to Land tour, will join them as the opening act. Tickets for the in-store shows and full UK tour are now available through Dice and the band’s official website.

Lynne, now 76, reflected on the choice of venue in a statement on Instagram: “My return to touring began at Hyde Park in 2014. It seems like the perfect place to do our final show.” That 2014 concert, part of BBC Radio 2’s Festival in a Day, marked the first performance under the moniker Jeff Lynne’s ELO and revitalised the band’s touring career. It was also their first live performance in 28 years.

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The upcoming Hyde Park concert will follow the band’s ongoing “Over and Out” farewell tour across North America, which began in August and is set to conclude at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on 25 October. The tour was named before the death of ELO’s co-founder and long-time keyboardist Richard Tandy, who passed away in May this year at the age of 76. Lynne paid tribute to Tandy, calling him a “remarkable musician” and “dear friend.”

Tandy had been an integral part of ELO since its inception in 1970, when the group emerged from the Birmingham music scene. Known for blending rock with classical music, the band dominated the charts in the 1970s and early 1980s with hits like “Mr. Blue Sky”, “Evil Woman”, and “Don’t Bring Me Down”. Their distinctive sound, characterised by symphonic strings and lush arrangements, became a defining feature of the era’s popular music.

After disbanding in 1986, Lynne shifted his focus to production, working with notable artists including George Harrison and Tom Petty. However, ELO’s legacy continued in various forms, most notably through the contentious ELO Part II, led by original drummer Bev Bevan. This incarnation of the group toured without Lynne’s involvement, which created a lasting rift between the two.

It was not until the release of Zoom in 2001 that Lynne resumed his role at the helm of ELO, though an accompanying tour was ultimately cancelled. A true reunion did not materialise until 2014 with the aforementioned Hyde Park performance, followed by the release of Alone in the Universe in 2015 and a high-profile slot at Glastonbury in 2016.

The Hyde Park show in 2024 will not only serve as a capstone to the band’s remarkable 50-year career but also marks the closure of a chapter in British rock history. Jim King, CEO of European Festivals at AEG Presents, expressed his excitement about hosting the gig, saying: “Jeff Lynne’s ELO are loved the world over. The live shows are nothing short of extraordinary and a testament to the incredible catalogue of hits we’ve enjoyed for over 50 years.”

The tour will feature a rotating cast of Halestorm, Avatar, and The Raven Age as supporting acts. Each performance promises to be a grand spectacle, with Iron Maiden being renowned for dedicating months to crafting elaborate and visually stunning shows. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson expressed his excitement, stating in a press release, “Next year is a very special one for Iron Maiden and we’re going to be giving our fans a once-in-a-lifetime live experience.” 

Manager Rod Smallwood echoed Dickinson’s enthusiasm, emphasizing the band’s commitment to delivering an extraordinary tour. “With well over 100 million albums sold and almost 2500 shows in 64 countries and counting, to countless millions of fans, we are all still loving every second and consider every tour a new challenge to bring something different and exciting to our fans. And for this very special one, we’re pulling out all the stops!” he said in the band’s press release. 

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The tour’s name, Run For Your Lives, pays homage to the band’s iconic song “Run to the Hills” and hints at the exhilarating experience that awaits fans. The tour includes 5 UK and Ireland dates in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin, and the London Stadium, a venue that holds special significance for bassist Steve Harris as a lifelong supporter of West Ham United. 

“My love of football and my support of West Ham is no secret, and I know many of our fans around the world have shared that with me too. So we’re all very excited to be playing at the London Stadium as part of the Run For Your Lives tour,” said Harris. “And of course, it’s not just London – the whole UK tour is going to be a real celebration for all of us. To be able to bring this very special show to all our fans across the UK and Ireland next year is going to be a great way to mark 50 years of Iron Maiden.” 

With over 100 million albums sold and almost 2,500 shows in 64 countries and counting, Iron Maiden, formed in 1975 in Leyton, East London, by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris, is a pioneering force in the heavy metal genre. Their debut self-titled album, released in 1980, set the stage for a series of critically acclaimed records such as The Number of the Beast, Powerslave, and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son.  

The band has promised to cover classics and fan favourites from their first nine albums, some of which they haven’t played in years and may never play again in the future. “This is going to be a huge couple of years for Iron Maiden, and Eddie of course, and we are very excited about what we have up our sleeves for you fans throughout the whole of our 50th year. I promise you are all going to be very happy indeed!” Dickinson assured. 

For fans old and new, this tour offers an opportunity to witness the band’s legendary stage presence and hear the music that has defined a genre.  

Tickets go on sale next week with pre-sale going live on September 23rd via the Iron Maiden fanclub website while general tickets for UK and Ireland dates will go on sale from Friday September 27 12pm BST via LiveNation.  

The tour will see the band perform 17 shows in just 22 days, beginning with something of a homecoming performance in Ipswich for the Lowestoft natives. After a hectic three week run in which the band will hit mid-size venues in cities towns across the UK, the tour will conclude with a bang at Wembley Arena on 29 March. Tickets will be available here from 27 September.

Most of the tour will precede the new album’s launch, so fans can likely expect a mix of old and new material. The Wembley Arena finale, however, lays the ground for a climactic live debut of new material from Dreams on Toast, coming the night following the album’s release.

“You know that thing when God’s breath tickles your soul and tells you to create? Who are we, mere mortals of extraordinary ability, to argue with the divine? So it gives us the most pleasure to announce that our new album, ‘Dreams on Toast’, will be released on Friday 28th March 2025,” the band wrote on its Instagram, announcing the new album’s name and release date.

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The Darkness recently rocketed up the US iTunes Rock charts with a resurgence in popularity for their 2003 glam rock anthem ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’, after Taylor Swift was spotted singing along to the song in the crowd of the US Open tennis final.

Propelled to fame by frontman Justin Hawkins’ unmistakeable falsetto and camp humour, the band’s debut album Permission to Land was a seismic event in the rock world in 2003. With hits like ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’ and ‘Growing on Me’, the album soared to quadruple platinum status in the UK. The band’s blend of glam, classic and metal, as well as a jocular stage presence, set them apart in an era dominated by more subdued acts.

Despite their meteoric rise, internal tensions and Hawkins’ struggles with addiction led to a temporary split in 2006. The band members pursued separate projects, but the allure of The Darkness proved too strong to resist. They reunited in 2011, much to the delight of their fans, and have since released several more albums, including Hot Cakes (2012) and Easter Is Cancelled (2019).

Accompanying the album announcement was the launch of the new song, ‘Longest Kiss’, which in keeping with the band’s penchant for pastiche of rock legends, gives a nod in homage towards the dandy side of Queen’s late seventies era.

In his typical parodic style that has made the band renowned not just as beloved rockers, but also as beloved interviewees, frontman Justin Hawkins told NME about the upcoming album: “God might not be the power she once was, but say what you like about her, she knows damn well that what the world needs now, is rock, sweet rock. And who are we, mere mortals of extraordinary ability, to argue with the divine?

“So we knuckled down and thought really hard about the best of the best, the elite songs, the life-changing music of the ages. Then we popped out a dozen bangers before lunch. And these bangers we present to you here, wallowing in an aromatic aural ragu, served atop the charred remains of our envious contemporaries.”

Dreams on Toast will launch on 28 March and can be pre-ordered on vinyl here.

As announced on Planet Rock, joining ZZ Top on stage will be two notable acts – Rival Sons, a two-time Grammy-nominated American rock band, and Welsh rock band Those Damn Crows.

Rival Sons, hailing from Long Beach, California, comprises members Jay Buchanan, Scott Holiday, Dave Beste, and Michael Miley, and is recognised for chart-topping singles ‘Do Your Worst’ and ‘Open My Eyes.’ Their distinctive sound is characterised by influences from classic rock, blues, and soul.

Welsh rock ensemble Those Damn Crows, originating from Bridgend, solidifies the lineup with members Shane Greenhall, Ian “Shiner” Thomas, David Winchurch, Lloyd Wood, and Ronnie Huxford. The band has made a significant impact in the rock scene with standout singles such as ‘Blink of an Eye’ and ‘Never Win.’

ZZ Top’s frontman Billy Gibbons took to Instagram to express the band’s anticipation for their European return, stating, “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to check in with our European fans, so it goes without saying that we’re excited about coming back this summer. We’re looking forward to a good time and that goes for both those in the audience and on stage.”
This London date is a significant highlight of ZZ Top’s extensive ‘The Elevation Tour,’ spanning nine countries with festival appearances and headline shows. The tour kicks off on June 28 in Sweden and includes stops in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, France, and the UK, concluding in Switzerland on July 16.

ZZ Top, often hailed as “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas,” has been a rock powerhouse since their formation in 1969, boasting hits like ‘La Grange,’ ‘Sharp Dressed Man,’ and ‘Legs.’ Despite the loss of Dusty Hill in 2021, ZZ Top’s resilience shines through with the addition of Elwood Francis, showcased in their latest album, RAW, released in July 2022.

Tickets for the ZZ Top, Rival Sons, and Those Damn Crows performance at London OVO Arena Wembley are currently on sale here.

Eddie Vincent attended the 1970 concert and snuck a Kodak Brownie 8mm camera into the arena. “I had really great seats,” he told Classic Rock. “They were right behind the band. I had seats in the front row, right behind John Bonham’s kit. The only problem was that you couldn’t really see John because the gong was there, but he came around and chatted to us while they were doing the acoustic set.” He hid the camera under his jacket, and in the introduction to the now uploaded footage he says: “There weren’t any problems at the door back in those days.”

The camera was a wind-up that could only capture up to 30 seconds at a time but it has given fans previously unseen footage of the band performing ‘Since I’ve Been Loving You’, ‘Thank You’, ‘What Is And What Should Never Be’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’, ‘Some Other Guy’ and ‘Lemon Song’. 

Vincent’s footage remained hidden away for 50 years before he contacted collector John Waters. Waters said: “The music needs to be out there. I know a lot of collectors and traders that don’t give their stuff away, and that’s a shame to me. Music’s to be shared, and today you need it to get away from the crazy world. And if this film brings a lot of people happiness, hey, we did a good job.” He oversaw the restoration process and another fan was able to match the footage to the audio from the Live on Blueberry Hill LP.

In the description of the recently uploaded Youtube video, Waters writes, “Old concert film is important and must be preserved! If you shot film in the past, traded and collected reels, or just bought them from the classifieds of rock magazines in the ’70s and ’80s, it’s important we save these.” He provides an email address for others who may be interested in restoring or sharing old footage. 

The tragic news was confirmed by Lancaster’s friend Craig Bennett, Bennett spoke on behalf of Lancaster’s family in a statement released. The statement announced Lancaster’s death whilst celebrating his musical influence and the artist’s resilience. “I am heartbroken to announce the passing of Alan Lancaster, British born music royalty, guitar God and founding member of the iconic band, Status Quo. Despite having MS and issues with his mobility, Alan participated in hugely successful reunion tours… He bravely played to thousands of adoring fans and loved being back with the band and his loyal Quo army.”

Bennett also shared a second statement within Social Media, the statement further describes Lancaster’s musical legacy whilst recounting his personal life.

Born on 7th February 1949 Lancaster is best known for founding English classic rock group Status Quo, the group was formed in 1962 and underwent some name and line-up alterations until becoming Status Quo in 1969. The original group, named The Scorpions, were founded by Lancaster and lead singer Francis Rossi whilst the two were in school where the duo met in the School’s orchestra.

Lancaster left the group in 1985 but his departure was not permanent as he reunited with the group in 2013 and 2014, even though his illness caused him difficulties. Lancaster played on 15 of the band’s albums and was a songwriter in the group, performing as the lead vocalist on various albums and live shows. Lancaster can be heard taking the lead on tracks such as “Bye Bye Johnny”, “High Flyer”, “Backwater” and the Doors cover “Roadhouse Blues”. Lancaster’s last studio album with the group was the 1983 release Back to Back.

After his departure from Status Quo, Lancaster joined the Australian band The Party Boys in 1987. In the same year Lancaster co-produced the band’s first studio self-titled album, the single “He’s Gonna Step on You Again” achieved success within the Australian charts. Lancaster later formed the group The Bombers in 1988, the group were signed to record label A&M Records but were later sold to another label. The group originally included the initial drummer from Status Quo, John Coghlan, Coghlan left Status Quo after 14 albums until a reunion show in 2012. The Bombers would go on to support big acts such as Alice Cooper, Skid Row and Cheap Trick on their Australian tours. After the group disbanded Lancaster formed his own project, Alan Lancaster’s Bombers, the group released a record and toured before disbanding. Lancaster’s other solo work includes the theme song for the 1985 film Indecent Obsession and producing responsibilities for classical musician Roger Woodward.

Status Quo hold over 60 UK chart hits, with 22 of the releases positioning within the top 10 in the UK singles charts. The group have released over 100 singles and 33 albums, 25 of their albums have charted within the top 10 in the UK. The measure of the band’s success also extends to their legendary live performances, Status Quo opened now legendary live concert Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in July 1985 with one of their best-known hits, “Rockin’ All Over the World”, the performance marked Lancaster’s final live show as a permanent band member. The group would go on to win a BRIT Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1991 for their success and influence within the music industry.

Dayle Lancaster, Lancaster’s wife of 43 years, also spoke on the tragic news. She expressed how his family were “Heartbroken”. Dayle spoke through Bennett, “Alan had a wonderful wit and a fabulously dry sense of humour. He was a devoted and adoring husband, father and grandfather, Family was always his focus.” Lancaster has been survived by his wife, children and grandchildren as well as his musical influence.

The ‘Fear of The Dark’ performers were included within a list of nominees for the Class of 2021 which was compiled and released in February of this year but were left off when the list of inductees was officially announced last week.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame took to Instagram to announce the news on 12th May 2021, the post features a video of Greg Harris that was shot inside the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and lists all contenders and the categories in which they are competing within.

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The list of inductees includes Tina Turner, Carole King, The Go-Go’s, Jay-z, Foo Fighters and Todd Rundgren, all of which are within the Performer Category. Within the Early Influence Award list are Kraftwerk, Charley Patton and ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’ artist and icon Gil Scott-Heron. The three acts within the Early Influence Award list include LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads.

The last prize is the Ahmet Ertegun award, which is given to non-performing professionals within the industry who have exhibited passion whilst leaving their mark. This year, the award will be bestowed upon Clarence Avant, the American music entrepreneur, executive and founder of Venture Records Inc and Sussex Records which ran from 1969- 1975.

The decision to omit Iron Maiden from the Class list was met with outrage and backlash from fans, who felt strongly about the East London rockers influence and contribution to music. The heavy metal band which formed in 1975 in Leyton have been performing, writing and touring since their inception and with a total of 40 albums under their belt, the band are a frequent favourite of any music fan.

Harris has insisted that the decision to omit the band from the Class list was not based on the band’s influence and impact within music and the industry. The CEO spoke with WBAB, the classic rock radio station from New York, about this decision.

“There’s no doubt that Iron Maiden are an impactful, influential band, and that’s why they were nominated this year, along with 15 other artists and acts, and when the votes came in, these six were the leaders,” he said. “So we’re not questioning, are they an important band, are they impactful and influential. Of those that have been nominated throughout history, over 80 per cent of them have been eventually inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. So everybody has their favourites; everybody has different artists that impacted them or impacted other artists. So, if you look at this list, you can make that case for all of these folks, just like people make that case for Iron Maiden.”

In the interview, Harris was also asked whether The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will be renamed to The Music Hall of Fame. The question was raised as the acts nominated and inducted in more recent years have been from varied genres of music and not just rock bands and acts.

“I think to get to the core of it, people like the stuff that’s closest to them, and I think they need to expand their thinking of rock and roll,” he replied. “It’s a big tent and everybody fits under it. It’s an attitude, it’s a spirit, and that’s rock and roll.”

Much like Iron Maiden, Harris has had a long and varied career; he was previously a senior executive at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, but music is no doubt Harris’ passion. The ex-road manager co-founded the Philadelphia Record Exchange in 1985, which specialises in locating and selling hard to find Vinyl records.