Pablo Cruise have returned with their first new song in nearly forty years with Breathe. David Jenkins hopped on the line with Kyle Meredith to discuss what prompted writing again after being primarily a live band for the past couple decades and their love of a positive message.

We also turn the clocks back to their final album, 1984’s Out of Our Hands, to hear what it was like having the 70s pop band adjust to an 80s new wave scene, writing with Huey Lewis, and the possibility of more new music.

Platinum-Selling Band Pablo Cruise Return with “Breathe,” Their First Studio Single Since 1983. The feel-good, irresistibly hooky anthem carries a universal message for our times. The beloved, platinum-selling American pop-rock band Pablo Cruise have announced that their new single, “Breathe,” will be released on September 4th.

A gloriously upbeat and irresistibly hooky feel-good anthem custom-made for our troubled times, “Breathe” represents the first piece of new music the group has recorded since 1983 and features the stellar lead vocals of Robbie Wckyoff.

CREDITS: Kyle Meredith Podcast

Barry Gibb and Dolly Parton have recorded a new version of the Bee Gees’ beloved song, “Words.” The song is one of 12 tracks from Gibb’s new country album, Greenfields: The Gibb Brothers Songbook, Vol. 1, which arrives Jan. 8, 2021 via Capitol Records.

The pair had previously collaborated on the 1983 smash duet by Kenny Rogers and Parton, “Islands in the Stream,” which was written by Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb. (Barry Gibb also served as one of the single’s producers.)

The new album was produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb. In addition to Parton, it features collaborations with Alison Krauss (“Too Much Heaven”), Olivia Newton-John (“Rest Your Love on Me”), Sheryl Crow (“How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”), Brandi Carlile (“Run to Me”), Keith Urban (“I’ve Gotta Get a Message to You”), Little Big Town together with Tommy Emmanuel (“How Deep is Your Love”), and others.

“Words” is the third song to be released in advance. Previously released were Gillian Welch and David Rawlings’ cover of “Butterfly” and Jason Isbell’s recording of “Words of a Fool.”

Of recording Greenfields, Gibb said, “From the first day we stepped into RCA Studios in Nashville (the very place where Elvis, Willie, Waylon, Roy, the Everly Brothers and so many other legends made their magic) the album took on a life of its own.

I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to work with Dave and all the artists who stopped by. They inspired me more than words can express. I feel deep down that Maurice and Robin would have loved this album for different reasons. I wish we could have all been together to do it…but I think we were.”

CREDITS: Best Classic Bands Staff

Kings of Leon are back with new music for 2021. The Followill brothers launched into the new year by sharing snippets of four new songs on social media, marking the Tennessee quartet's first new music in about nine months.

KOL began teasing the forthcoming music on Friday (Jan. 1) by sharing samples of the upbeat "Must Catch the Bandit" and the moody "Feel the Way You Do," noting that the new tunes would be released on Thursday (Jan. 7). The teasers were accompanied by short black-and-white clips of the group members.

The rollout continued throughout the weekend with snippets of the catchy "Dancing in Your Head" and the thoughtful "Spin It Like We Can." The band did not announce release dates for those tracks or provide additional details about a possible forthcoming album.

Kings of Leon's most recent song arrived in late March amid the lockdown with the aptly titled "Going Nowhere." The accompanying black-and-white video featured frontman Caleb Followill sitting with a guitar, belting the ballad in an empty room.

The band's last studio album, Walls, arrived in 2016 and earned the act its first No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The set, its seventh overall, was led by the chart-topping single "Waste a Moment," which topped Billboard's Adult Alternative Songs airplay chart.

Credits: By Mitchell Peters – Billboard Magazine

When news broke earlier this week that guitarist Leslie West was gravely ill, many fellow classic rock legends began expressing admiration for one of their own heroes and wishing him well. Sadly, West did not recover from the heart attack that he had suffered days earlier. He died yesterday, December 23, 2020, at age 75. We’ve collected several of the tributes to West and shared them below.

On West’s official Facebook page, a post, presumably from his wife, Jenni, said, “Heaven just got a lot louder. Rest now my love.”

Peter Frampton – “Leslie West was the very first US guitar player I met when Humble Pie opened for Mountain here. Leslie’s playing and sound had me glued watching everything he did. He was a sweetheart and an extremely funny man. I love you Leslie and will miss you dear friend.” RIP

The Kinks’ lead guitarist, Dave Davies, wrote on Twitter: “I loved Leslie West and his guitar playing. Loved Mountain. Mississippi Queen. So American so cool. Mountain were the beginning of American heavy metal I thought.”

Robbie Robertson – “Leslie West playing that Les Paul Jr with that tone and tenacity really moved me. Blessing to his friends, fans, and family.” #LeslieWest

Geezer Butler - Sad to hear of Leslie West’s passing. Such a lovely bloke. He was fantastic to us when Sabbath supported Mountain on our first US tour. He came to see us at Mohegan Sun, even though he was wheelchair bound. Mississippi Queen one of, if not the, greatest riff of all time. RIP

Joe Satriani - ‘R.I.P. Leslie West. We had some great times together onstage and some legendary laughs everyday on tour. Thank you for all the great music. My deepest condolences to the West family.”

Neal Schon - “Wow… I’m very saddened to hear this terrible news. He was a major influence on my playing. God Bless you Brother...you are Soaring with Angels.” David Coverdale - R.I.P Leslie West...Yet another sad loss...I’ve never tired of listening to Mountain...

Joe Bonamassa - Rest In Peace friend. Thank you for allowing me in your world. Leslie West was a rock and roll hall of fame member that didn’t need a statue nor ceremony to prove it. He just was and will always be.

Dee Snider – “For those who don't really know Leslie West's work, let me say this about his guitar playing. As a singer, while I respect great players, vocalists spoke to me with their melodies. @lwestmountain is the only guitarist who I connected with cause I could sing every 1 of his solos!”

Bruce Kulick - “I am very saddened by the loss of one of my biggest guitar heroes, Leslie West. His music and guitar tone was always a huge influence on me. I saw him live many times, and Grand Funk played shows with Leslie on the same bill. That was so exciting for me. He will always be remembered as a HUGE rock guitar legend. Another tragic day in 2020.”

Paul Stanley: “Leslie’s tone could stop a rhino in a full charge. Mountain sound was massive. Leslie was a warm and lovely guy.”

Ace Frehley - “I lost a dear friend yesterday, he was Leslie West the lead guitarist from “Mountain”…Probably best known for their hit “Mississippi Queen”…He was an amazing guitarist, and I was awaiting a call from him, since I did a remake of one of his songs on “Origins Vol. 2”…but now I’ll never get a chance to hear what he thought of the cover…It’s so sad, we’ve lost so many great guitar 🎸players this year…my prayers are with his family & friends during this holiday season! He was one of the great guitarists and a good friend over the years!!! He will be missed in the Rock & Roll Community! I’m sure he’s up in R&R Heaven w/all the other musicians we’ve lost! …R.I. P Mr. West!” — Ace

Tom Morello – “Rest In Peace #LeslieWest. His guitar tone on “Mississippi Queen” is hands down the BADDEST guitar tone on record.”

Credits: by Best Classic Bands Staff / Best Classic Bands