HomeRock NewsQuick Takes: Ace Frehley, Kool & The Gang, Timothy B. Schmit, Little Richard
Ace Frehley is a proud Donald Trump supporter. The former-Kiss guitarist appeared on The Cassius Morris Show, and explained, "I don't think politics and rock n' roll mix — in my opinion. And I try to stay away from that as much as I can. I mean, once in a while, I'll make a crack. I will say I'm a Trump supporter. All the politicians have had skeletons in the closet. But I think Trump is the strongest leader that we've got on the table." (Blabbermouth)
Kool & The Gang co-founder — and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee — Ronald "Khalis" Bell died on September 9th at age 68 of undisclosed causes at his home in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bell, who is survived by his wife and 10 children, co-wrote such classics for the band as "Celebration," "Cherish," "Get Down On It," "Too Hot," "Ladies Night," and "Jungle Boogie," among others. (The Associated Press)
The Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit has just released a new track, called "Cross That Line," which touches on President Trump's narcissism and the MeToo Movement. Schmit told Rolling Stone, "I’ve had this song in my back pocket for almost a year now, and I’m not sure why I’ve waited so long to release it. Then it became clear to me about two weeks ago that now is, indeed, the time. There is nothing else I can say about this piece other than. . . the song speaks for itself." (Rolling Stone)
A revamped version of Little Richard's 1956 classic "Rip It Up" will be the new theme to ESPN's Monday Night Football. The new recording will keep the rock icon's original vocal track, with "a new musical arrangement by the Richmond, Virginia group Butcher Brown, which plays a variety of musical styles and features a multiracial lineup of musicians."
The network will likely change the 'Saturday night' reference in the lyrics to one about Monday night. The main reason for the switch from Hank Williams Jr.'s "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" is due to the fact that with the ongoing pandemic, the NFL teams are playing to empty stadiums — and no friends are likely coming over to one another's houses to watch the game together. (The Washington Post)
