August 15, 2021 by Amy Gold
Jessica Springsteen called her famous father Bruce Springsteen after helping her team jumping squad nail a silver medal in the delayed Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics on Saturday https://t.co/lHIHzIuKC0
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 8, 2021
During the week of August 8, 2021, it was announced that Bruce Springsteen's daughter Jessica, a world-class show jumping rider, took home the silver medal for the U.S. Equestrian jumping team at the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics games held this year in Tokyo.
Also that week, a number of recordings by ZZ Top had a resurgence in popularity in the wake of the recent passing of Dusty Hill, the band's bassist. ZZ Top's 1974 hit, "La Grange," topped Billboard's Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart, making it their first-ever song to reach #1 on that tally. Three other songs also made that chart's Top 10: "Sharp Dressed Man" (1983) at #2, "Tush" (1975) at #5, and "Gimme All Your Lovin'" (1983) at #6. "La Grange" also reached #6 on the Rock Digital Song Sales chart, with the three remaining songs in the Top 20. In addition, ZZ Top's 2019 greatest hits compilation album, "Goin' 50," reached #5 and #20 on Billboard's Hard Rock Albums and Top Rock Albums charts, respectively.
Several current and former members of KISS and Iron Maiden are among this year's inductees into the Metal Hall of Fame. The virtual awards ceremonies will be livestreamed on September 12 from Volume.com/MetalHallofFame. Those members of KISS to be honored are guitarist Bruce Kulick, late drummer Eric Carr, current manager Doc McGhee, and late former manager Bill Aucoin. Two former lead singers of Iron Maiden, Paul Di'Anno and Blaze Bayley, will also be inducted along with Derek Riggs, the artist who created the band's "Eddie" mascot.
Tony Bennett announced his retirement from touring and cancelled all remaining shows for 2021 on doctor's orders. The 95-year-old pop legend, who has been battling Alzheimer's disease for the past four years, has not retired completely from the music business. He has an upcoming duets album with Lady Gaga due out on October 1 titled "Love For Sale," their second and final collaboration.
Also that week, Milwaukee's Summerfest 2021 became among a growing number of events and venues to require attendees to show proof of either COVID-19 vaccination or a current negative COVID-19 test due to the recent surge in new cases nationwide. This new protocol followed soon after Live Nation's announcement that it will allow its touring artists to require the same from concert goers. Summerfest 2021 is scheduled to take place September 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18, with a lineup that includes such veteran acts as REO Speedwagon, Styx, and ZZ Top.
Finally, August 14, 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the original release of The Who's fifth album, "Who's Next." This critically acclaimed recording, which topped the U.K. album charts and reached #4 on the Billboard 200, includes such classics as "Baba O'Riley," "Behind Blue Eyes," and "Won't Get Fooled Again."
In Memoriam:
Patricia Kennealy-Morrison (March 4, 1946 - July 21, 2021): Rock music journalist, author, and former partner of Doors frontman Jim Morrison
Canceled & Postponed Events:
(Band/Artist - Event(s) - Location - Original Dates - Rescheduled Dates)
Stevie Nicks, The Rolling Stones, & more - New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - New Orleans, LA - October 8-17, 2021 - April 29-May 8, 2022
New & Upcoming Recordings:
(Band/Artist - Title - Format - Release Date)
Joan Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie, The Weavers, & more - VMP Anthology: The Story Of Vanguard (box set) - vinyl - August 9, 2021
Santana & Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty - Move (single from "Blessings And Miracles") - digital download, streaming - August 18, 2021
Ringo Starr - Change The World (EP) - CD, cassette, digital download, streaming - September 24, 2021
Santana - Blessings And Miracles - CD, vinyl, digital download, streaming - October 15, 2021
Elvis Presley - Elvis: Back In Nashville (1971 archival box set) - CD, digital download, streaming - November 12, 2021
Ringo Starr - Change The World (EP) - vinyl - November 19, 2021
(For more information about the above news items, please see below for a list of sources with links.)
Patricia Kennealy-Morrison - the one-time rock journalist and partner of Doors singer Jim Morrison - died July 23rd at the age of 75. https://t.co/P3WfZ4NtR5
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) August 5, 2021
Jessica Springsteen called her famous father Bruce Springsteen after helping her team jumping squad nail a silver medal in the delayed Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics on Saturday https://t.co/lHIHzIuKC0
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 8, 2021
Vanguard Records, home of essential folk albums by Joan Baez, Odetta, the Weavers and more, will be the focus of the next Vinyl Me, Please series in a limited edition box set. https://t.co/BLTxyELPPE
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) August 9, 2021
Organizers have cancelled the New Orleans Jazz Fest due to "current exponential growth" of new COVID-19 cases in the city and region. https://t.co/N7RYMWaBuz
— WEAR ABC 3 (@weartv) August 9, 2021
If you want to go to Summerfest 2021, you're going to have to have a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
— JSOnline - NewsWatch (@js_newswatch) August 10, 2021
https://t.co/GYmhonUuuX
Aug 14 is the 50th anniversary of "Who's Next." Its songs are remnants of a failed opera named "Lifehouse" about a dystopian future. @dvesean https://t.co/RY31mvEeii via @WSJOpinion
— Harry Bloomberg (@pittbandphoto) August 10, 2021
"Move" is the new single from Carlos Santana -- featuring Rob Thomas. Yes, *again*, after that one song you may have heard a few times back in 1999. The track also features American Authors, and will make its debut on 8/18: https://t.co/CwQlgBugDV pic.twitter.com/Q7WdpUGpQa
— Rock Cellar Magazine (@RockCellarMag) August 11, 2021
Ex-Kiss and Iron Maiden members, Triumph, Stryper and more among 2021 Metal Hall of Fame inductees https://t.co/8lIcnyF5pG
— 95.7 The Lake (@957TheLake) August 12, 2021
ZZ Top recordings move up 'Billboard' charts in the wake of bassist Dusty Hill's death https://t.co/lVG4a0VJ2C
— 98 Rock (@98Rock) August 12, 2021
Elvis Presley's last-ever Nashville recording sessions are assembled for a new box set. Listen to "I'm Leavin'" from the 1971 studio sessions. https://t.co/lNvg0TR6qQ
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) August 12, 2021
.@ringostarrmusic's new EP includes contributions from @JoeWalsh, @RealLindaPerry and @toto99com's Steve Lukather: https://t.co/aGSiaBTeSm
— UltimateClassicRock (@UltClassicRock) August 13, 2021
Tony Bennett cancels remaining 2021 tour dates; son says crooner is retiring from performing https://t.co/OACsotuSXC
— #WVTM13 (@WVTM13) August 13, 2021