ZZ Top add yet more dates to ever-expanding Elevation tour as Frank Beard continues to miss shows

Elwood Francis and Billy Gibbons onstage
(Image credit: Corine Solberg/Getty Images)

Texan boogie legends ZZ Top have added another run of shows to their 2025 schedule. The latest additions to the band’s Elevation tour kick off on August 10 at the Pinewood Bowl Theater in Lincoln, NE, and wrap up at The Mill in Terra Haute, IN, on October 10.

The current lineup of ZZ Top sees Billy Gibbons and Elwood Francis, who took over from late bassist Dusty Hill in 2021, joined by drummer John Douglas, who is filling in for founding drummer Frank Beard. Beard stepped away from the tour last month to attend to unspecified health issues.

Douglas, like Francis, was a long-time member of ZZ Top’s crew before stepping into the spotlight. He also stood in for Beard when he underwent an emergency appendectomy in Paris in 2002. No date has been set for Beard’s return.

A presale for the new shows begins this Thursday (April 17) at 10 a.m. local time, using the code DANCE. ZZ Top’s next show is at the North Bendigo Jockey Club in Australia on April 26. Full dates below.

ZZ Top: Elevation tour 2025

Apr 26: North Bendigo Bendingo Jockey Club, Australia
Apr 27: Mornington Mornington Racecourse, Australia
Apr 29: Adelaide AEC Arena, Australia
May 01: Perth Langley Park, Australia
May 03: Hunter Valley Roche Estate, Australia
May 04: Wollongong Stuart Park Wollongong, Australia
May 07: Melbourne Margaret Court Arena, Australia
May 10: Brisbane Sandstone Point Hotel, Australia
May 11: Brisbane Sandstone Point Hotel, Australia
May 13: Sydney ICC Sydney Theatre, Australia
May 17: Australiackland Spark Arena, New Zealand
May 18: Wellington TSB Bank Arena, New Zealand

Jun 01: Victoria Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, BC
Jun 03: Kelowna Prospera Place, BC
Jun 04: Tsuut’ina Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, AB
Jun 06: Enoch River Cree Resort & Casino, AB
Jun 07: Saskatoon SaskTel Centre, SK
Jun 08: Winnipeg Canada Life Centre, MB
Jun 10: Moorhead Bluestone Amphitheater, MN
Jun 12: Wait Park The Ledge Waite Park Amphitheater, MN
Jun 13: Carlton Black Bear Casino Resort, MN
Jun 14: Davenport Rhythm City Casino Event Center, IA
Jun 18: Windsor Caesars Windsor, ON
Jun 20: Pickering Pickering Casino Resort, ON
Jun 21: Toronto The Great Canadian Theatre, ON
Jun 22: Hamilton First Ontario Centre, ON
Jun 25: Laval Place Bell, QC
Jun 26: Quebec Agora Du Port Du Quebec, QC
Jun 27: Moncton Casino New Brunswick, NB
Aug 02: Sioux City Hard Rock Sioux City, IA
Aug 04: Morrison Red Rocks Amphitheatre, CO
Aug 06: Salina Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, KS
Aug 07: Washington Town & Country Fair, MO
Aug 08: Arcadia Ashley for the Arts, WI
Aug 10: Lincoln Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater, NE
Aug 13: Salt Lake City Red Butte Concert Series, UT
Aug 14: Pocattello Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheater, ID
Aug 17: Eugene The Cuthbert Amphitheater, OR
Aug 22: Coquitlam Great Canadian Casino Vancouver, BC
Aug 23: Richmond River Rock Casino, BC
Aug 24: Auburn Muckleshoot Casino Resort, WA
Aug 26: Troutdale Edgefield Amphitheater, OR
Aug 28: Saratoga Mountain Winery, CA
Aug 29: Murphys Ironstone Amphitheater, CA
Aug 30: Costa Mesa OC Fair & Event Center, CA
Sep 03: Midland Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, TX
Sep 07: Tuscaloosa Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, AL
Sep 11: Selbyville Freeman Arts Pavilion, DE
Sep 13: Asbury Park Sea Hear Now Festival, NJ
Sep 17: New York Beacon Theater, NY
Sep 19: Danville The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia, VA
Sep 21: Bethlehem Wind Creek Event Center, PA
Sep 23: Binghamton Visions Memorial Arena, NY
Sep 24: Albany Palace Theatre, NY
Sep 26: Providence Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, RI
Sep 27: Hampton Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, NH
Sep 28: West Springfield The Big E Arena, MA
Oct 02: Barco Morris Farm, NC
Oct 03: Winnsboro Field and Stream Music Fest, SC
Oct 05: Athens The Classic Center, GA
Oct 07: Knoxville The Tennessee Theatre, TN
Oct 09: Northfield MGM Northfield Park, OH
Oct 10: Terra Haute The Mill, IN

Tickets for the previously announced shows are available now.

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Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 39 years in music industry, online for 26. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.

Alice Cooper and Judas Priest announce co-headline tour

Alice Cooper amd Judas Priest publicity photos
(Image credit: Alice Cooper: Jenny Risher | Judas Priest: Andy ‘Elvis’ McGovern)

Shock rock king Alice Cooper and heavy metal legends Judas Priest have lined up a 22-date co-headline US tour for later this year. The schedule begins on September 16 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, MS, and wraps up at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston, TX, on October 26.

Support at all shows – apart from the September 18 show in Alpharetta, GA – will come from Corrosion Of Conformity. Artist presales will begin tomorrow (April 16) at 10am, with the general sale kicking off on Friday at the same time.

The new dates are in addition to an already-announced UK co-headline show at the O2 in London on July 25, and follow the conclusion of Cooper’s Too Close For Comfort tour in late August. Meanwhile, Priest will complete their 2025 European Shield Of Pain schedule in July. Full details below.

Alice Cooper: Too Close For Comfort 2025 tour

Feb 13-17: Miami Rock Legends Cruise, FL

May 02: Huntsville VBC Mark C. Smith Concert Hall, AL
May 03: Macon Atrium Health Amphitheater, GA
May 05: Montgomery Performing Arts Center, AL
May 06: Savannah Civic Center: Johnny Mercer Theater, GA
May 07: North Charleston Performing Arts Center SC
May 09: Columbus Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival 2025, OH
May 10: Saginaw Dow Event Center, MI
May 13: Moline Vibrant Arena at The MARK, IL
May 14: Milwaukee Miller High Life Theatre, WI
May 15: Muncie Ball State University: Emens Auditorium, IN
May 17: Erie Erie Insurance Arena, PA
May 18: Ocean City Boardwalk Rock 2025, MD|
May 20: Wilkes-Barre Mohegan Arena, PA
May 22: Utica Stanley Performing Arts Center, NY
May 23: Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena, CT
May 24: Atlantic City Ocean Casino Resort, NJ

Jul 05: Hannover Stadium, Germany *
Jul 08: Bologna Sequoie Music Park, Italy
Jul 11: Athens Rockwave Festival 2025, Greece
Jul 13: Mogilovo Midalidare Rock in the Wine Valley, Bulgaria
Jul 19: Spalt Strandbad Enderndorf, Germany
Jul 22: Cardiff Utilita Arena, UK
Jul 23: Edinburgh Playhouse, UK
Jul 25: London The O2, UK ∞
Jul 26: Mönchengladbach SparkassenPark, Germany
Jul 28: Amsterdam AFAS Live, Netherlands
Jul 30: Schaffhausen Stars in Town 2025, Switzerland

Aug 15: Philadelphia Citizens Bank Park, PA
Aug 19: Salem Salem Civic Center, VA
Aug 20: Knoxville The Tennessee Theatre, TN
Aug 21: Chattanooga Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium, TN
Aug 23: Chesterfield The Factory, MO
Aug 26: Waukee Vibrant Music Hall, IA
Aug 27: Omaha Orpheum Theater, NE
Aug 30: Memphis Elvis Presley’s Memphis: Graceland Soundstage, TN

* with Scorpions and Judas Priest
∞ co-headline show with Judas Priest

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Judas Priest Shield Of Pain tour 2025

Jun 14: Oslo Tjuvholmen Arena, Norway
Jun 17: Stuttgart Schleyerhalle, Germany
Jun 18: Hessentag Festival, Frankfurt, Germany
Jun 21: Clisson Hellfest, France
Jun 25: Viveiro Resurrection Fest, Spain
Jun 27: Lisbon Evil Live Fest, Portugal
Jun 29: Barcelona Rock Fest, Spain
Jul 01: Ferrara Summer Festival, Italy
Jul 03: Zurich Hallenstadion, Switzerland
Jul 05: Hannover Niedersachsenstadion, Germany (supporting Scorpions)
Jul 07: Lodz Atlas Arena, Poland
Jul 10: Rattvik Dalhalla, Sweden
Jul 13: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
Jul 15: Carcassonne Festival De Carcassone, France
Jul 17: Sion Sous Les Etoiles, Switzerland
Jul 19: Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg
Jul 20: Oberhausen Rudolf-Weber-Arena, Germany

Jul 23: Scarborough Open Air Theatre, UK
Jul 25: London O2 Arena, UK ∞

∞ co-headline show with Alice Cooper

Alice Cooper & Judas Priest: Co-headline tour

Sep 16: Biloxi Mississippi Coast Coliseum, MS
Sep 18: Alpharetta Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, GA*
Sep 20: Charlotte PNC Music Pavilion, NC
Sep 21: Franklin FirstBank Amphitheater, TN
Sep 24: Virginia Beach Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, VA
Sep 26: Holmdel PNC Bank Arts Center, NJ
Sep 27: Saratoga Springs Broadview Stage at SPAC, NY
Sep 29: Toronto Budweiser Stage, ON
Oct 01: Burgettstown The Pavilion at Star Lake, PA
Oct 02: Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theatre, MI
Oct 04: Cincinnati Riverbend Music Center, OH
Oct 05: Tinley Park Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, IL
Oct 10: Colorado Springs Broadmoor World Arena, CO
Oct 12: Salt Lake City Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre, UT
Oct 14: Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre, CA
Oct 15: Wheatland Toyota Amphitheatre, CA
Oct 18: Chula Vista North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre, CA
Oct 19: Los Angeles Kia Forum, CA
Oct 22: Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, AZ
Oct 23: Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheater, NM
Oct 25: Austin Germania Insurance Amphitheater, TX
Oct 26: Houston The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, TX

Alice Cooper / Judas Priest tour admat

(Image credit: Live Nation)

Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 39 years in music industry, online for 26. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.

Ghost have played the first show of their Skeletour World Tour – setlist details now online

Ghost in 2025, with Metal Hammer signature
(Image credit: Future)

Ghost have played the opening show on their 2025 Skeletour World Tour, at the 23,000-capacity AO Arena in Manchester, UK, playing a set that mixed tracks from new album Skeletá with a glut of certified bangers.

The new songs included set opener Peacefield, current single Lachryma, last month’s Satanized single and Umbra, while there were live debuts for last year’s The Future Is a Foreign Land and Darkness At The Heart Of My Love from 2022’s Impera album. Among the surprises were Majesty, which hasn’t been played live since 2019, and the return of Monstrance Clock, which was last aired on the band’s North American A Few Shows Named Death tour the same year. Full details below.

While the setlist might be in the public domain, the band’s phone-free policy means we’re unlikely to see much footage emerge from the shows.

“This show will be a phone-free experience,” reads the small print accompanying the dates. “Phones will be secured in Yondr pouches. Guests maintain possession of their phones at all times.”

Earlier this year, mainman Tobias Forge told Rock Sound how the policy had improved the experience for everyone involved.

“I have never seen a crowd interact the way that they did since I was in a club band,” he said. “They were the best shows I’ve ever done with Ghost, just because I didn’t have to see those fucking mobile phones.”

The next show on Ghost’s world tour is at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, tomorrow night, before the UK schedule finishes with dates in London and Birmingham. Mainland Europe shows begin in Belgium on April 22, with US dates kicking off in July. Full dates below.

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Ghost setlist: AO Arena, Manchester, UK

Peacefield
Lachryma
Spirit
From the Pinnacle To The Pit
Majesty
The Future Is A Foreign Land
Cirice
Darkness At The Heart Of My Love
Satanized
Ritual
Umbra
Year Zero
He Is
Rats
Kiss The Go-Goat
Mummy Dust
Monstrance Clock

Encore
Mary On A Cross
Dance Macabre
Square Hammer

Ghost: Skeletour World Tour dates 2025

Apr 16: Glasgow OVO Hydro, UK
Apr 19: London The O2, UK
Apr 20: Birmingham Utilita Arena, UK
Apr 22: Antwerp Sportpaleis, Belgium
Apr 23: Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany
Apr 24: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany
Apr 26: Lyon LDLC Arena, France
Apr 27: Toulouse Zenith Metropole, France
Apr 29: Lisbon MEO Arena, Portugal
Apr 30: Madrid Palacio Vistalegre, Spain
May 03: Zurich AG Hallenstadion, Switzerland
May 04: Milan Unipol Forum, Italy
May 07: Berlin Uber Arena, Germany
May 08: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, Netherlands
May 10: Lodz Atlas Arena, Poland
May 11: Prague O2 Arena, Czech Republic
May 13: Paris Accor Arena, France
May 14: Oberhausen Rudolph Weber Arena, Germany
May 15: Hannover ZAG Arena, Germany
May 17: Copenhagen Royal Arena, Denmark
May 20: Tampere Nokia Arena, Finland
May 22: Linköping Saab Arena, Sweden
May 23: Sandviken Göransson Arena, Sweden
May 24: Oslo Spektrum, Norway

Jul 09: Baltimore CFG Bank Arena, MD
Jul 11: Atlanta State Farm Arena, GA
Jul 12: Tampa Amalie Arena, FL
Jul 13: Miami Kaseya Center, FL
Jul 15: Raleigh PNC Arena, NC
Jul 17: Cleveland Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, OH
Jul 18: Pittsburgh PPG Paints Arena, PA
Jul 19: Philadelphia Wells Fargo Center, PA
Jul 21: Boston TD Garden, MA
Jul 22: New York Madison Square Garden, NY
Jul 24: Detroit Little Caesars Arena, MI
Jul 25: Louisville KFC Yum! Center, KY
Jul 26: Nashville Bridgestone Arena, TN
Jul 28: Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena, MI
Jul 29: Milwaukee Fiserv Forum, WI
Jul 30: St Louis Enterprise Center, MO
Aug 01: Rosemont Allstate Arena, IL
Aug 02: Saint Paul Xcel Energy Center, MN
Aug 03: Omaha CHI Health Center, NE
Aug 05: Kansas City T-Mobile Center, MO
Aug 07: Denver Ball Arena, CO
Aug 09: Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena, NV
Aug 10: San Diego Viejas Arena, CA
Aug 11: Phoenix Footprint Center, AZ
Aug 14: Austin Moody Center ATX, TX
Aug 15: Fort Worth Dickies Arena, TX
Aug 16: Houston Toyota Center, TX

Sep 24: Mexico City Palacio De Los Deportes

Tickets are on sale now.

Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 39 years in music industry, online for 26. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.

Complete List Of The Grateful Dead Songs From A to Z

The Grateful Dead began their journey in Palo Alto, California, in 1965, initially playing as the Warlocks before adopting their iconic name later that year. Founding members Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Phil Lesh, and Bill Kreutzmann fused folk, blues, jazz, and rock into a uniquely improvisational style that quickly distinguished the band in San Francisco’s vibrant counterculture scene. They gained prominence through their performances at Ken Kesey’s Acid Tests—psychedelic gatherings where music and LSD intertwined, shaping their lasting association with 1960s counterculture.

ZZ Top Announces Massive 2025 North American ‘Elevation’ Tour

ZZ Top will launch the 51-date North American Elevation tour on June 1 in Victoria, British Columbia, with the fun currently set to conclude on Oct. 10 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The Texas trio were the most active classic rock band in terms of touring last year, beating out fellow road warriors such as Judas Priest, Styx and Journey with 99 shows in 2024.

It looks like Billy Gibbons is determined to break into triple digits this year. The guitar legend began 2025 with a 25-date tour with his side band the BFGs, then immediately followed that up with 23 North American ZZ Top dates. On April 26 the group will begin a 12-date, three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand, then it’s off to Canada for the start of this latest North American tour, which will include the newly added dates.

Read More: ZZ Top Lineup Changes: A Complete Guide

In mid-March, longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard announced that he would be taking some time off from the tour to focus on an unspecified health issues. John Douglas, a longtime member of the band’s tech crew and, most importantly a “fellow Texan,” has been filling in since that time. He joins Gibbons and bassist Elwood Francis, who took over for the late Dusty Hill in 2021. A timeline for Beard’s return has not been announced.

You can see ZZ Top’s complete tour itinerary below. Ticket information can be found at their official website.

ZZ Top 2025 North American Tour Dates

June 1: Victoria, BC – Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
June 3: Kelowna, BC – Prospera Place
June 4: Tsuut’ina, AB – Grey Eagle Resort and Casino
June 6: Enoch, Alberta – River Cree Resort & Casino
June 7: Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Centre
June 8: Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
June 10: Moorhead, MN – Bluestone Amphitheater
June 12: Wait Park, MN – The Ledge – Waite Park Amphitheater
June 13: Carlton, MN – Black Bear Casino Resort
June 14: Davenport, IA – Rhythm City Casino Event Center
June 18: Windsor, ON – Caesars Windsor
June 20: Pickering, ON – Pickering Casino Resort
June 21: Great Canadian Tornoto, ON – The Theatre
June 22: Hamilton, ON – FirstOntario Centre
June 25: Laval, QC – Place Bell
June 26: Quebec, QC – Agora Du Port Du Quebec
June 27: Moncton, NB – Casino New Brunswick
Aug. 2: Sioux City, IA – Hard Rock Sioux City
Aug. 4: Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
Aug. 6: Salina, KS – Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts
Aug. 7: Washington, MO – Town & Country Fair
Aug. 8: Arcadia, WI – Ashley for the Arts
Aug. 10: Lincoln, NE – Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater
Aug. 13: Salt Lake City, UT – Red Butte Concert Series
Aug. 14: Pocattello, ID – Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheater
Aug. 17: Eugene, OR – The Cuthbert Amphitheater
Aug. 22: Coquitlam, BC – Great Canadian Casino Vancouver
Aug. 23: Richmond, BC – River Rock Casino
Aug. 24: Auburn, WA – Muckleshoot Casino Resort
Aug. 26: Troutdale, OR – Edgefield Amphitheater
Aug. 28: Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery
Aug. 29: Murphys, CA – Ironstone Amphitheater
Aug. 30: Costa Mesa, CA – OC Fair & Event Center
Sept. 3: Midland, TX – Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center
Sept. 7: Tuscaloosa, AL – Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater
Sept. 11: Selbyville, DE – Freeman Arts Pavilion
Sept. 13: Asbury Park, NJ – Sea Hear Now Festival
Sept. 17: New York, NY: Beacon Theater
Sept. 19: Danville, VA – The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia
Sept. 21: Bethlehem, PA – Wind Creek Event Center
Sept. 23: Binghamton, NY – Visions Memorial Arena
Sept. 24: Albany, NY – Palace Theatre
Sept. 26: Providence, RI – Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
Sept. 27: Hampton, NH – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
Sept. 28: West Springfield, MA – The Big E Arena
Oct. 2: Barco, NC – Morris Farm
Oct. 3: Winnsboro, SC – Field and Stream Music Fest
Oct. 5: Athens, GA – The Classic Center
Oct. 7: Knoxville, TN – The Tennessee Theatre
Oct. 9: Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park
Oct. 10: Terra Haute, IN – The Mill

2025 Summer Rock Tour Preview

The Bon Jovi Conversation That ‘Shook’ Richie Sambora

The Bon Jovi Conversation That ‘Shook’ Richie Sambora
Jesse Grant, Getty Images

Richie Sambora has detailed a conversation late in his Bon Jovi tenure that “shook” the guitarist.

During a recent appearance on the Magnificent Others podcast, hosted by Smashing PumpkinsBilly Corgan, Sambora – who departed Bon Jovi in 2013 – reflected on his final days in the band, noting how he and frontman Jon Bon Jovi seemed to be drifting apart..

“I felt like Jon was changing his focus and he often wanted to be a solo artist,” the guitarist noted. “And I go, ‘Go make a solo [album]’… He was definitely changing directions.”

READ MORE: All 359 Bon Jovi Songs Ranked Worst to Best

Solo albums weren’t foreign to the musicians. In fact, Sambora himself had just come back from touring in support of his 2012 solo LP Aftermath of the Lowdown. When the guitarist reconnected with Bon Jovi to work on the band’s next album, he assumed he and the singer would handle the bulk of the songwriting duties, as they’d done for the majority of their successful career. However, Sambora soon realized something had changed.

“[Jon Bon Jovi] said, all of a sudden, ‘Nah, you don’t gotta worry about [songwriting],” Sambora recalled. “'[Session guitarist] John Shanks and I wrote like 30 songs.’”

Sambora Said the New Material ‘Sounded Like Every Song That I Didn’t Want to Write’

As Sambora noted, his songwriting partnership with Bon Jovi had proven incredibly fruitful up to that point. Across more than 30 years, the bandmates collaborated on such timeless tracks as “You Give Love a Bad Name,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “I’ll Be There for You.” Having that dynamic changed was startling to the guitarist.

READ MORE: Richie Sambora Regrets That He Didn’t Quit Bon Jovi Earlier

“It shook me a little bit,” Sambora admitted. “But I said, ‘Alright. What do you got?”

In an attempt to keep an open mind, Sambora listened to the songs Bon Jovi and Shanks had worked on. “And it didn’t sound like Bon Jovi. It didn’t sound like the band,” the rocker explained. “It sounded like every song that I didn’t want to write.”

Sambora left Bon Jovi soon afterward, opting to focus on his family life. Bon Jovi’s next album, 2015’s Burning Bridges, was made up largely of material written with Shanks and producer Billy Falcon. Sambora received one songwriting credit on the LP for “Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning,” a tune that was started prior to his departure. 2016’s This House Is Not for Sale marked the first Bon Jovi album without a Sambora songwriting credit.

Bon Jovi Albums Ranked Worst to Best

A ranking of every Bon Jovi studio album.

Gallery Credit: Anthony Kuzminski

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

Three Dog Night 1968 Debut Album Review

Feature Photo: Public Relations, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Anytime we publish an article about Three Dog Night, it receives a tremendous response, which tells us one thing: people loved that band. Of course, they are one of my favorite bands of all time. I grew up listening to them. Not just the big hits on the radio, but as a teenager in the 1970s, I purchased every single album they released. So I thought it was time to basically go back and run through every single one of their Studio albums and just write a little bit about the records, give some helpful information, and some commentary about each one of their albums. So we start with their debut album…..

Recorded in Los Angeles during the summer of 1968, the album (also known as “One”) was produced by Gabriel Mekler. The album featured the vocal talents of Danny Hutton, Cory Wells, and Chuck Negron, backed by an impressive lineup of musicians who too often did not get the credit that they should have gotten. These fantastic musicians played with an intense spirit that balanced the perfect blend of rock and soul grooves that sounded perfect on the radio. They were their own Wrecking Crew.  The band included Michael Allsup on guitar, Jimmy Greenspoon on keyboards, Joe Schermie on bass, and Floyd Sneed on drums. Originally formed in 1967, the group had initially gone by the name Redwood before settling on Three Dog Night, a name referring to an Australian aboriginal expression.

The album made a strong commercial impression, reaching the Top 20 on both the U.S. and Canadian album charts. While the first two singles from the album, “Nobody” and “Try A Little Tenderness,” achieved only moderate success, it was the third single, “One” (a cover of Harry Nilsson’s song), that became their breakthrough hit, reaching number five on the Billboard charts in 1969. The album brilliantly showcased the group’s versatility and talent for interpretation, featuring songs from an impressive array of songwriters including Traffic, The Beatles, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Randy Newman, and Neil Young.

Three Dog Night’s debut album included several songs that would later become part of their live repertoire, and notably contained their version of “Your Song,” making them one of the first major acts to record an Elton John composition well before he achieved his own breakthrough in America.  This pattern of identifying and covering songs by up-and-coming songwriters would become a hallmark of Three Dog Night’s career, helping to introduce audiences to writers like Harry Nilsson, Laura Nyro, Randy Newman, and others.

The album title has often caused some confusion among fans. Gary Burden designed the album’s cover art, which initially displayed only the band’s name. Following the success of the single “One,” the title was added to capitalize on the song’s popularity. Nevertheless, the album is not officially titled One; it is simply Three Dog Night.

Three Dog Night’s self-titled debut album made a remarkable commercial impact upon its release in 1968, peaking at an impressive number eleven on the Billboard 200 chart and reaching number seventeen on the Canadian Albums Chart. The album’s commercial success was further validated when it was certified Gold by the RIAA on August 15, 1969, for sales exceeding five hundred thousand units, and nearly four decades later, was awarded Platinum certification on August 5, 2008, recognizing sales of over one million copies.

While the album’s first single “Nobody” barely made a dent on the charts at number one hundred sixteen on the Billboard Hot 100, the second single “Try a Little Tenderness” performed considerably better, reaching number twenty-nine in the US and number nineteen in Canada. However, it was the third release, “One,” that became the album’s breakout hit, climbing to number five on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number one on Record World Singles chart, and performing strongly internationally with a number four position in Canada and number sixteen in New Zealand.

While many fans remember the hits, the album’s first two tracks have become cult favorites among many hardcore fans who bought the individual albums. The album’s opening track, “Nobody,” is a real scorcher, followed by another smoking rock and roll song called “Chest Fever.”

CD Track Listings:

  1. “Nobody” 2:19
  2. “Chest Fever” 3:25
  3. “I’ll Be Creeping” 3:30
  4. “Don’t Make Promises” 3:00
  5. “Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad” 3:12
  6. “It’s For You” 2:15
  7. “Let Me Go” 3:55
  8. “One” 3:00
  9. “Try A Little Tenderness” 4:05
  10. “Heaven Is In Your Mind” 3:07
  11. “Find Someone To Love” 2:00

“Nobody”

Lead Vocal – Cory Wells

Written by Beth Beatty, Dick Cooper, and Ernie Shelby

“Chest Fever”

Lead Vocal – Cory Wells

Written by Robbie Robertson

And, of course, we need to include the two big hits…

“One”

Lead Vocal – Chuck Negron

Written by Harry Nilsson

“Try A Little Tenderness”

Lead Vocal – Cory Wells

Written by Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, and Harry M. Woods

Another choice deep track

Don’t Make Promises

Lead Vocal – Chuck Negron

Written by Tim Hardin

Check out more Three Dog Night articles on ClassicRockHistory.com Just click on any of the links below……

10 Most Rocking Three Dog Night Songs

Top 10 Three Dog Night Love Songs

Top 10 Three Dog Night Deep Tracks

10 Three Dog Night Songs We All Loved

Top 10 Three Dog Night Albums

Three Dog Night: Underappreciated Hitmakers

In A Classic Rock Year, Three Dog Night’s Joy To The World Was No.1

Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com

Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory

Three Dog Night 1968 Debut Album Review article published on ClassicRockHistory.com© 2025

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AC/DC Leaves Dallas Thunderstruck: Review and Photos

AC/DC has spent the past half-century defying the odds at every turn, and they did it once again on Monday at Arlington, Texas’ AT&T Stadium during the second night of their North American Power Up Tour.

You can see exclusive photos from the show below.

The septuagenarian rockers played the same 21-song set as their opening night in Minneapolis, delivering a relentlessly energetic two-hour performance that left 80,000 fans feeling shell-shocked and thunderstruck — fitting, considering they were in the home of the Dallas Cowboys, whose beloved cheer squad dances to the 1990 hit at every game.

AC/DC Keeps Getting Better With Every Tour Stop

It was an ear-splitting, unqualified triumph that became all the more remarkable when you consider just how unlikely it is that AC/DC is even here in 2025. The band’s 2016 Rock or Bust Tour, which ended with Axl Rose subbing for a hearing-impaired Brian Johnson, felt like an elegy, compounded by the death of Malcolm Young the following year. 2020’s reunifying Power Up album roared like a beast awoken from its slumber, but AC/DC didn’t return to the stage until late 2023 for the Power Trip festival. That show felt like a miracle, but could the band — particularly Johnson — really handle the rigors of a world tour?

Needless to say, the answer is a resounding “yes.” Not only can AC/DC still deliver their peerless, megawatt stadium rock spectacle, but they’re getting better with each tour stop, gleefully rubbing it in the faces of their doubters.

At 70 years old, Angus Young stomped and shimmied down the catwalk with the same combustible energy of his youth. He ripped the solo to “You Shook Me All Night Long” with economical precision, and the stadium roared with applause when he writhed on a raised platform during the free-form, splendidly gratuitous “Let There Be Rock.”

READ MORE: How to Hear and Watch Every US AC/DC Tour: 1977-2023

Johnson, meanwhile, seems to harvest the life force of every audience. The frontman shook the rust off his vocal cords throughout the band’s 2024 European tour, and his voice sounded demonically robust on Monday. He screamed like a feral alley cat on “Highway to Hell” and “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You),” and he delivered an inspired, gravelly interpretation of “Sin City.” Some croaks and crags are inevitable at 77, but Johnson has developed workarounds for the toughest vocal moments — and when he needed backup, he had 80,000 screaming fans more than happy to oblige.

That’s the timeless beauty of an AC/DC concert. It’s still a night out with the lads like no other, a testament to the communal, life-affirming spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. We know better than to ever count them out at this point — maybe they’ll be back in Dallas again in a couple of years. But if the Power Up Tour ends up being their swan song, it will be remembered as a blaze of hellfire and glory from one of rock’s most indomitable forces.

AC/DC Live in Arlington – April 14, 2025

Aussie rockers left AT&T Stadium’s 80,000 fans shell-shocked and thunderstruck.

Gallery Credit: Bryan Rolli

10cc Announces Summer US Tour Dates

10cc is returning to the U.S. for a run of shows this summer.

The dates follow the British band’s concerts in the States last summer, their first performances in the U.S. since 1983. The Ultimate Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour starts on Aug. 27 in Napa, California, and will hit major U.S. cities for the next few weeks.

10cc’s 2025 lineup includes singer, bassist and band cofounder Graham Gouldman; guitarist Rick Fenn, who’s been with the band since 1976; drummer Paul Burgess, a member since 1983; and touring members keyboardist Keith Hayman and multi-instrumentalist Andy Park.

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“After not having toured the U.S. for more than three decades, last year’s tour was a remarkable experience,” Gouldman said in a press release announcing the shows.

“We’re used to our regular audiences across Europe, Australia and New Zealand, but the reaction of the American audiences took us completely by surprise – it was incredible. We are really looking forward to our return and playing new venues this year.”

Looking back at 10cc’s earliest U.S. tours, Gouldman told UCR last year, “It was great to be in America – because American music is such a big part of what influenced us. And for me, it still does to this day, and it always will.

“People like Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, the Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, that’s in my DNA and the DNA of all of my contemporaries. Every writer or anybody I work with, once we start talking about influences, it’s always pretty much the same.”

Where Is 10cc Playing in 2025?

After 10cc’s Ultimate Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour launches in Napa, California, the band will play dates in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and other cities before wrapping up on Sept. 14 in Alexandria, Virginia.

You can see all of 10cc’s current tour dates below. More information, including tickets, can be found on the band’s website.

10cc Ultimate Ultimate Greatest Hits 2025 Tour
Aug 27 – Napa, CA @ Uptown Theatre
Aug 28 – Monterey, CA @ Golden State Theatre
Aug 29 – Thousand Oaks, CA @ Kavli Theatre
Aug 30 – Las Vegas, NV @ Westgate Resort & Casino
Aug 31 – Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre
Sept 2 – Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
Sept 3 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
Sept 4 – Leewood, MO @ Ranch North
Sept 5 – Chicago, IL @ Park West
Sept 6 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Theatre
Sept 7 – Columbus, OH @ Kemba Live!
Sept 9 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre
Sept 10 – Glenside, PA @ Keswick Theatre
Sept 11 – Norwalk, CT @ District Music Hall
Sept 12 – Tarrytown, NY @ Tarrytown Music Hall
Sept 13 – Carteret, NJ @ Carteret Performing Arts Center
Sept 14 – Alexandria, VA @ Birchmere

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You already know the Dylan, Springsteen and Zeppelin classics that came out that year. Now it’s time to go deeper.

Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci

David Bowie’s Daughter Insists She’s ‘Not a Copy’ of Her Late Dad

David Bowie’s Daughter Insists She’s ‘Not a Copy’ of Her Late Dad
Jo Hale, Getty Images / @_p0odle_, Instagram

Lexi Jones, the musician daughter of David Bowie and supermodel Iman, has detailed her struggle to escape her late father’s legacy.

Jones, 24, released her debut album, Xandri, earlier this month — however it’s not the first art she’s launched into the world. She previously established herself as a painter, whose work is for sale in a variety of formats.

Presumably in response to the reception of her musical creations, Jones published a poem titled “David Bowie’s Daughter” – with the subheading “That gets your attention ay?”

READ MORE: Why David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ Was Rush-Released

I’m the daughter of a legend / but I’m more than just his name / They see the blood, they hear the sound / yet fail to see me, don’t feel the same,” she began.

Suggesting exasperation at being compared to Bowie’s heights, “like I’m supposed to reach his light,” she continued: “I’m not here to chase what’s already been done.”

Jones went on to say that while people expect her to carry on her late father’s legacy, it has never been a driving force in her life. In fact, she added, “I’m not a copy, not a shadow… never thought I was good at much.”

Lexi Jones Says She’s Not Trying to Fill David Bowie’s Shoes

Elsewhere in the poem, Jones reported that she’d finally focused on freeing herself from the expectations of others: “Even when the world is hard to please / I’m not trying to fill his shoes  / I’m just trying to find my own peace.”

On Jones’ website she explains that her mission with art is “to create and share my pieces with the intent to encourage others to create their own.”

Noting that she’d started drawing as a child before it became more important to her as she encountered mental health issues later, she added: “My hope is to inspire those [who] come across this body of work to join in the journey… find something that fuels a passion to find your driving force in life. It’s a necessity for everyone.”

Listen to Lexi Jones’ Song “The Passage Unseen”

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Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci

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