John Fogerty recently celebrated his 80th birthday with a live concert at The Beacon Theater in New York, featuring his family band performing a heavy dose of material by John’s ground-breaking ‘60’s band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. He is also releasing a new collection of some of his his greatest Creedence Clearwater Revival hits, all newly recorded with his sons, his daughters and even his wife! (The press buzz is that John is doing his own “Taylor’s version” of his hits, ala Taylor Swift re-recording all of her albums her own way to retain control of this material.)
The new collection arrives August 22nd and features twenty of CCR’s best-known classics:
Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years:
1. “Up Around The Bend”
2. “Who’ll Stop The Rain”
3. “Proud Mary”
4. “Have You Ever Seen The Rain”
5. “Lookin’ Out My Back Door”
6. “Born On The Bayou”
7. “Run Through The Jungle”
8. “Someday Never Comes”
9. “Porterville”
10. “Hey Tonight”
11. “Lodi”
12. “Wrote A Song For Everyone”
13. “Bootleg”
14. “Don’t Look Now”
15. “Long As I Can See The Light”
16. “Down On The Corner”
17. “Bad Moon Rising”
18. “Travelin’ Band”
19. “Green River”
20. “Fortunate Son”
An official statement says:
For the first time in his career, John Fogerty fully owns the rights to his groundbreaking Creedence Clearwater Revival catalog — a milestone decades in the making. With Legacy, he offers fresh takes on the music that continues to define American rock, recorded with renewed energy and a deep sense of purpose as he celebrates his 80th birthday.
“For most of my life I did not own the songs I had written,” says Fogerty. “Getting them back changes everything. Legacy is my way of celebrating that — of playing these songs on my terms, with the people I love.”
Fogerty celebrates the songs that shaped rock history – on his own terms. For the first time, he fully owns the rights to his music. This marks both celebration and reclamation.
With newly recorded versions of his hits, Legacy: The Creedence Clearwater Revival Years captures his raw energy with renewed fire. Backed by his family band and buoyed by a wave of fresh recognition, he remains both fierce and joyful. Legacy is not just a celebration of one of the greatest catalogs in rock ’n’ roll – it’s the sound of an American original claiming his place, once more, at center stage.”
When discussing the new album with Rolling Stone Magazine, Fogerty said,”The first five or six people I’ve talked to who’ve listened to it all say it sounds ‘fresher.’ Maybe what they’re saying is it’s clearer, or the fidelity is better or something? That may be something I hadn’t even counted on, but there’s more dimension to it, more depth.”
You can read our spotlight article on Creedence Clearwater Revival here:
Here’s an interesting side note to this story:
In the 1970’s John “parted ways” with the Rickenbacker guitar he played while with Creedence Clearwater Revival. He felt he just couldn’t play it anymore due to the painful memories he connected to the instrument.
He was once offered the opportunity to buy it back again for $40,000 but refused to do so … the memories were still too bitter and painful. It reminded him of all of his legal battles with his former bandmates and record label.
But his wife (and manager) Julie bought it for him anyway and gave it to him as a Christmas present, in the hopes that it might kick start the healing process that would help him return to music. (John refused to play ANY Creedence music more several years for the same reason … someone else would be making money off his music instead of him.)
Story goes that it was Bob Dylan who convinced him to play his tunes again. (“Otherwise,” he told him, “people will think ‘Proud Mary’ is a Tina Turner song!”)
Fogerty told Rolling Stone Magazine, “I was hurt. I was damaged. I started as a kid full of joy doing music, but during the time of Creedence, and shortly after that, it became certainly not joyful.”
Picking up the guitar, though, (with the word “Acme” hand-painted on it) Fogerty's feelings began to change, leading to his return to the stage. Now, with Legacy, he’s taken another step.
“The idea was to reconnect and feel that way about everything again,” he said. “The guy who couldn’t even stand to look at his own guitar in the ’90s or beyond would have never done that.”
When it comes to his new album of Creedence Clearwater Revival remakes he said: “When you’re 80 years old, you finally are given the special key to the kingdom. I guess you can do whatever you want. I decided this is what I wanted to do – to give myself a present.”
Fogerty offered two more reasons for making the album: “Number one, there’s probably no chance in the world I will ever have any part of the ownership of the old masters. This is kind of the Taylor Swift part. But another thing is, I think there’s a joy quite evident in the music that may not be there in the original versions.”
Speaking of Taylor Swift, in a somewhat related note, it was announced on Friday (5/30) that Taylor Swift has bought back the rights to the master recordings that made up her first six albums (at a reported cost of about $360 million!!!) Wow!!! (As mentioned above, Taylor had be re-recording all of her earlier recordings and putting them out as “Taylor’s Version” releases that have sold remarkably well. One has to wonder which versions she’ll be promoting moving forward.)
In a message on her website, Taylor said: “All the times I was this close, reaching out for it, only for it to fall through. I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and then yanked away. But that’s all in the past now … I really get to say these words: All of the music I’ve ever made … now belongs to me. All of my music videos. All the concert films. The album art and photography. The unreleased songs. The memories. The magic. The madness. Every single era. My entire life’s work.”
Congratulations, Taylor, you deserve it (and you certainly paid a hefty price to obtain the work that YOU created in the first place.) These are the times (John Fogerty included) when the record business really sucks … the label makes a TON of money of these artists and then holds their creativity for ransom, ultimately selling it back to the artist in the long run at a substantial cost for what THEY created in the first place. All I can say is congratulations to the many artists to buy back what is rightfully theirs … we salute you.
Per the quote referenced above, “For the first time in his career, John Fogerty fully owns the rights to his groundbreaking Creedence Clearwater Revival catalog — a milestone decades in the making.” So never say never, John … who knows what the future holds ahead. (It sounds like he may already be there!) kk
Happy belated 80th Birthday 🎊🎂💐🎇 to John Fogerty, seen here hanging at The House of Blues in Hollywood.
Also remembering "Hot Lips" actress Loretta Swit of M*A*S*H* fame, arriving at Spago down the street from House Of Blues.
Jim Roup
The Styx / Kevin Cronin / Don Felder tour is underway … and man, what a barrage of hits between these three incredible artists!
Just check out the playlists below …
Styx May 28, 2025 Greenville, SC Set List
The Grand Illusion
1. "The Grand Illusion"
2. "Fooling Yourself (The Angry
Young Man)"
3. "Superstars"
4. "Come Sail Away"
5. "Miss America"
6. "Man in the Wilderness"
7. "Castle Walls"
8. "The Grand Finale"
9. "Rockin' the
Paradise"
10. "Too Much Time on My Hands"
11. "Lady"
12. "Build and Destroy"
13. "The Best of Times"
14. "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)"
15. "Mr. Roboto"
16. "Renegade"
Kevin Cronin Band Set List:
Hi Infidelity
1. "Don't Let Him Go"
2. "Keep On Loving You"
3. "Follow My Heart"
4. "In Your Letter"
5. "Take It on the Run"
6. "Tough Guys"
7. "Out of Season"
8. "Shakin' It Loose"
9. "Someone Tonight"
10. "I Wish You Were There"
11. "Keep Pushin'"
12. "Time for Me to Fly"
13. "Ridin' the Storm Out"
14. "Can't Fight This Feeling"
15. "Roll With the Changes"
Don Felder Set List:
1. "Already
Gone"
2. "One of These Nights"
3. "Victim of Love"
4. "Seven Bridges Road"
5. "I Like the Things You Do"
6. "Heavy Metal (Takin' a
Ride)"
7. "Take It Easy"
8. "Heartache Tonight"
9. "Life in the Fast Lane"
10. "Hotel California"
With Styx and Cronin playing complete album sets from their respective catalogs (Cronin, of course, was the lead singer for REO Speedwagon for decades), you just can’t get more bang for your buck … as each band then follows this up with an impressive hit list … Don Felder’s set is heavy on material he performed as a member of The Eagles plus his own solo hit, “Heavy Metal” … what a great summer concert! (kk)
Speaking of tours, Drummer Frank Beard officially rejoins ZZ Top for their North American Tour later this year. (Beard has been missing and out of action the past few months with foot and ankle issues … key “working elements” if you’re a drummer) … but is apparently healed and ready to go. (If something goes wrong, there's a chance that Zak Starkey may be available … depending on what day you happen to ask him!)
ZZ Top has an extensive tour planned, kicking off in June and running thru October …
6/1: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, BC
6/3: Prospera PlaceKelowna, BC
6/4: Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, Tsuut'ina, AB
6/6: River Cree Resort & Casino, Enoch, AB
6/7: SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon, SK
6/8: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
6/10: Bluestone AmphitheaterMoorhead, MN
6/12: The Ledge - Waite Park AmphitheaterWaite Park, MN
6/13: Black Bear Casino Resort, Carlton, MN
6/14: Rhythm City Casino Resort, Davenport, IA
6/18: Caesars Windsor, The Colosseum, Windsor, ON
6/20: Pickering Casino Resort - The Arena, Pickering, ON
6/21: Great Canadian Toronto - The Theatre, Toronto, ON
6/22: First Ontario Centre, Hamilton, ON
6/25: Place Bell, Laval, QC
6/26: Agora Du Port De Québec, Québec, QC
6/27: Casino New Brunswick - The Centre,Moncton, NB
8/1: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis, SD
8/2: Hard Rock Sioux City, Sioux City, IA
8/4: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
8/6: The Stiefel Theatre, Salina, KS
8/8: Ashley For The Arts, Arcadia, WI
8/10: Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater, Lincoln, NE
8/13: Red Butte Concert Series 2025, Salt Lake City, UT
8/14: Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre, Pocatello, ID
8/17: Cuthbert Amphitheatre, Eugene, OR
8/22: Great Canadian Casino Vancouver, Coquitlam, BC
8/23: River Rock Casino,Richmond, BC
8/24: Muckleshoot Casino Resort, Auburn, WA
8/26: Edgefield Amphitheater, Troutdale, OR
8/29: Ironstone Amphitheater, Murphys, CA
8/30: OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA
9/3: Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland, TX
9/6: Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis, TN
9/7: Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa, AL
9/11: Freeman Arts Pavilion, Selbyville, DE
9/13: Sea.Hear.Now Festival, Asbury Park, NJ
9/17: Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
9/19: The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia, Danville, VA
9/21: Wind Creek Bethlehem, Bethlehem, PA
9/23: Visions Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY
9/24: Palace Theatre - Albany, Albany, NY
9/16: Veteran's Memorial Auditorium, Providence, RI
9/27: Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton, NH
10/2: Morris Farm, Barco, NC
10/3: Field & Stream Music Fest, Winsboro, SC
10/5: The Classic Center, Athens GA
10/7: The Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN
10/9: MGM Northfield Park - Center Stage, Northfield, OH
10/10: The Mill, Terre Haute, IN
In other tour news, the Rick Springfield “I Want My ‘80’s” tour kicked off in Clearwater, Florida, with a show at Ruth Ekerd Hall … and it sounds like it was a rousing success (and a really good show to see)
The line-up changes periodically along the way (for example, we don’t get John Cafferty here in Chicago until he does his solo concert at The Arcada Theatre in November), but this sounds like a really great night of music.
Two reviews from David Salidor, who’s doing PR work for Cafferty. (Each reviewer seems to be a bit confused as to where John’s music originally came from … but that’s OK, I guess!) Note that John’s performing WITHOUT The Beaver Brown Band on this short run, backed by Rick Springfield’s band instead … we get “the real deal” when he does appear here in November. (kk)
https://www.rockatnight.com/2025/05/i-want-my-80s-tour-gives-clearwater-that-big-hair-feeling/
https://www.suncoastpost.com/music/i-want-my-80s-tour-is-totally-rad-in-clearwater/
And this from one who can’t perform …
Rod Stewart called off his residency at The Colosseum in Las Vegas just hours before he was due to take the stage, due to an unspecified illness.
Sir Rod posted on Instagram four hours before he was due to hit the stage: “I am sorry to inform you that I’m not feeling well and my show tonight at The Colosseum (June 1st) at Caesars Palace is being rescheduled to June 10.” Tickets for last Sunday’s show will be valid for the new date. In a note posted around the same time, the Colosseum said: “We are sorry to inform that due to illness, Sir Rod Stewart’s show tonight at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace is being rescheduled to June 10.”
Oddly enough, Sir Rod has just appeared at The American Music Awards the week before, accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award. After the Las Vegas gig, he has a full summer tour scheduled … so we’re waiting to see if the status of those dates will change. Stay tuned for more details. (kk)
Also definitely not doing well is Dave Mason ...
He just cancelled all of his remaining shows for 2025. Seems he's suffering from a severe infection he contracted earlier this year.
In September of 2024 Mason had to postpone and/or cancel a number of shows when he was experiencing a heart condition. His hope was to start making up those shows now ... but it's just not to be. We wish him the best. (kk)
Love his shot from Timmy, who says:
Never knew who would show up at a Bar-B-Q with the Phillips couple ...
The photo actually comes from the set of The Beach Boys’ music video for their version of The Mamas and the Papas’ classic “California Dreamin’,” in which Roger McGuinn of The Byrds also appears. (They sure look pretty in color, don’t they?!?!)
A few years later, Brian’s daughters Wendy and Carnie and John and Michelle Phillips’ daughter Chynna would be hit singers on their own as Wilson Phillips (kk)
More from Jim Roup ...
Remembering Vincent Price , May 27, 1911 -October 25, 1993
Asked Mr. Price to make a scary face for me ... and he did! 😩
Happy Birthday!🍰 🎂 🍰 🎂greetings to Brooke Shields and funny man Chris Elliot!
Happy June 1st Birthdays 🎈🎂🎉🎊 to Ron Wood having lunch at Le'Dome, and Morgan Freeman at Chasen's.
Happy Birthday 🍰 🎂🎉 to Jerry "The Beaver" Mathers on June 2nd. Also remembering Charlie Watts on his Birthday June 2nd.
VIDEO CLIP OF THE WEEK
Found this totally by accident while searching for something else – and now I can’t stop watching it!!!
I’ve always loved this song anyway … so finding this video was a real treat …
#10, 1981 …
And they actually hail from Champaign, IL!
And they had another Top 40 hit in 1983 with “Try Again” (#18)
Unfortunately, nowhere near as memorable. (kk)
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
6/4/65 – Ten Time WTA Champion Tennis Pro Andrea Yeager is born (right here in Chicago, Illinois!)
