Rev Rock Report

Pope Leo XIV meets with American singer, songwriter, poet, and author Patricia Lee Smith also known as Patti Smith during an audience at the Apostolic Palace on July 31, 2026 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Simone Risoluti - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images) Musician, poet and author Patti Smith met with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Friday.Video posted by Vatican News shows the Rock & Roll Hall […]

Rod Stewart and Stevie Van Zandt perform in Southhampton, New York. (Photo Credit: Lane Oliveri) Rod Stewart headlined a special charity event Thursday night in Southhampton, New York.The rocker performed for more 200 guests at the home of philanthropists Bob and Lauren Day Roberts, with the night raising more than $1.7 million for E Street Band guitarist Stevie Van Zandt’s national education non-profit TeachRock.The performance included a collaboration between Stewart […]

Billy Idol at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction (Disney/Eric McCandless) Billy Idol will launch a new leg of the It’s A Nice Day To…Tour Again! tour in August. He’s getting fans excited for the trek with a funny new promo video, titled “Everybody’s About To Get Their S*** Rocked.”“Rock icon Billy announces the next leg of his tour with the signature wit, swagger, and attitude that have […]

Metallica on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' (ABC/Randy Holmes) Take a look to the sky just before you start Gears of War: E-Day, it's the last time you will.The upcoming video game, the latest installment in the long-running Gears of War franchise, will include a weapon skin inspired by Metallica's 1984 album, Ride the Lightning.The Ride the Lightning song "For Whom the Bell Tolls" also soundtracks a new Gears of War: E-Day trailer previewing its multiplayer modes, […]

Alice in Chains' 'Unplugged' album artwork. (Columbia Records) Alice in Chains is reissuing the band's 1996 Unplugged live album on vinyl in honor of its 30th anniversary.The LP is available to preorder now via Alice's webstore. It marks the first time the album has been available on vinyl in the U.S.Alice in Chains recorded Unplugged as part of the MTV Unplugged series. The set includes stripped-down performances of songs including "Rooster," "Down in […]

Graham Nash performs onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for FIREAID) Graham Nash has always stood up for causes he believes in, and in the latest case it has forced him to cancel an upcoming concert.“We are disappointed to let you know that the July 31st Graham Nash show at […]

Former U.S. President Barack Obama stands on stage with daughter Sasha Obama during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza on June 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Barack Obama is letting folks know what music he’s been into this summer.Obama just released his 2026 summer playlist, which features such classic tracks as The Police’s “Message […]

'From the Dark' album artwork. (BMG) Tony Iommi was hoping his upcoming solo album, From the Dark, would feature a mini Black Sabbath reunion.The guitarist tells Rolling Stone that he originally wanted Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler to play on the record."I wanted [Butler] to play on this album, but he couldn't do it," Iommi says. "He's doing his own album, I think. Or at the time, something happened there, so he couldn't come […]

Grateful Dead 'Merriweather 6/30/85' (Rhino) The Grateful Dead has shared another preview of their upcoming live box set celebrating the summer of 1985.The band has released a performance of "The Other One," recorded during their June 30, 1985, concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. It is available now via digital outlets."Dating back to 1967, 'The Other One' was the most consistently played psychedelic-era song in the Grateful Dead's repertoire, […]