U2 recently shared a video on YouTube of Bono and The Edge performing at the Woody Guthrie Prize ceremony and in conversation with T Bone Burnett.

On October 21, lead vocalist Bono and lead guitarist the Edge accepted the Woody Guthrie Prize on behalf of U2 at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

At the awards ceremony, Bono and Edge performed a surprise acoustic set and shared an extended conversation with producer and musician T Bone Burnett.

The Irish rock band shared the live performance of five songs from the night on YouTube. The songs include “Running to Stand Still,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “One, Pride (In the Name of Love)” – with a snippet of Guthrie’s “Jesus Christ – and Yahweh.”

Bono and the Edge returned to Cain’s Ballroom for the first time since U2’s 1981 show on the U.S. leg of The Boy Tour.

The Woody Guthrie Center Senior Director Cady Shaw delivered remarks at the fundraising evening. Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter Anna Canoni also shared her family’s appreciation of U2 as the standard bearers of Woody’s legacy.

At the time of the announcement, the Woody Guthrie Center noted that “the award ‘recognizes a recipient who embodies the spirit of Woody Guthrie’s social consciousness and musical legacy. In their art and in their actions, U2 band members Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. continue a tradition of using music as a force for social change, echoing Guthrie’s belief that songs can help make the world a fairer place.”

Source: RTT Music News

Paul McCartney says he is “very sad” to see the maker of his iconic violin bass go out of business.

The Beatles legend was responding to the news that Karl Höfner GmbH & Co. KG, the German manufacturer of musical instruments, has filed for bankruptcy.

Höfner entered insolvency proceedings in the Fürth District Court in Bavaria, Germany, last week.

“It is very sad to see Höfner go out of business. They have been making instruments for over 100 years, and I bought my first Höfner bass in the sixties. I have loved it ever since,” McCartney said in a statement. “It’s a wonderful instrument to play: lightweight, and it encourages me to play quite freely. It also offers pleasing variations in tone that I enjoy. So, commiserations to everyone at Höfner, and thank you for all your help over the years.”

Much of Höfner’s popularity is attributed to McCartney’s use of the Höfner 500/1 electric bass guitar throughout his career. This violin-shaped model is commonly referred to as the “Beatle bass.”

Source: RTT Music News

Rock legend Joe Walsh raised a significant sum for veterans through a landmark auction of his personal music memorabilia, turning decades of rock history into meaningful support for charitable causes.

Julien’s Auctions hosted “Life’s Been Good: Joe Walsh” on December 16-17 in Los Angeles at the iconic Troubadour. The event drew global attention from fans and collectors across more than 22 countries.

The auction featured a remarkable collection of Walsh’s personal guitars, instruments, vehicles, stage wardrobe, and rare rock ephemera from his 50-year career, with several headline lots far exceeding expectations.

Among the top sellers was Walsh’s 2007 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, which sold for a whopping $102,400. Meanwhile, an ARP 2500 Synthesizer with Barnstorm Wing Cabinet and Les Paul’s 1955 Steinway Model B Grand Piano each got $57,600. A Bad Company-signed Squier Electric Guitar received $32,000, and a Stage Played Epiphone Zakk Wylde Les Paul Custom Bullseye fetched $22,400.

All proceeds will benefit VetsAid, the nonprofit Walsh founded in 2017 to support national and regional organizations assisting U.S. veterans and their families.

“Life’s been good for Joe Walsh, whose music has shaped decades of rock history,” said Julien’s co-founder and executive director Martin Nolan. “This historic auction was a true celebration of that journey—and a powerful way to give back.”

Source: RTT Music News

Rock legends Pink Floyd recently shared an official music video for “Wish You Were Here,” 50 years after the song’s release.

The classic 1975 record was reissued with new digital and physical editions for its 50th anniversary earlier this month. The band has now shared a music video for the title track.

“Wish You Were Here” was released as the title track of Pink Floyd’s 1975 album of the same name. Guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour and bassist/vocalist Roger Waters collaborated in writing the music, with Gilmour singing lead vocals. “Wish You Were Here” was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, as part of the sessions for the entire album.

The video opens with a clip of the moon, before a string of disorientating images begin to flash on the screen, including sperm racing toward an egg, an eye filled with flames, and lights zipping through darkness.

The video also features footage of the band in the studio and running through a subway station.

Source: RTT Music News

Queen guitarist Brian May has shared an unreleased holiday song recorded in 1974, titled “Not for Sale (Polar Bear).”

The track was originally recorded for Queen II, the second album by the iconic band, but was ultimately cut from the final track listing.

“People might possibly have heard a bootleg version of ‘Not for Sale (Polar Bear)’ by Smile. It’s a song that goes back a very long way, but to my knowledge no one has ever heard this version,” May said during a show on Planet Rock.

The song received its first radio play on Planet Rock on Monday, December 22, and will also appear on the upcoming reissue of Queen II, due out in 2026.

May added, “It’s a work in progress and will appear on the forthcoming rebuild of the Queen II album—coming next year—but I’m sneaking this into my Planet Rock special because I’m fascinated to know what people think about it. I hope people have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!”

Source: RTT Music News