The Eagles have made music history as Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 just became the first album certified quadruple diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. The milestone represents 40 million units sold since the collection’s 1976 release, making it the RIAA’s biggest album of all-time based on U.S. sales and streams. The compilation spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and logged a total of 514 weeks on the chart. The RIAA also upgraded the band’s iconic 1976 studio album, Hotel California, to 28-times platinum in recognition of over 28 million units sold, ranking it third all-time behind Michael Jackson‘s landmark 1982 album, Thriller, at 34-times platinum. To mark the 50th anniversary of Their Greatest Hits on February 17th, a crystal-clear 180-gram vinyl edition will be released at Eagles.com. The band continues their record-breaking Sphere residency with a series of shows scheduled through March. (Billboard)
Dr. Martens will release a Metallica-themed footwear collection on January 29th featuring branded versions of the 1460 boot and 1461 shoe. “Our first creative partnership with the masters of heavy metal and titans of thrash, Metallica,” the company wrote of the collaboration, adding that they are “Reworking some of our foundational silhouettes in homage to a band that still delivers music for the outcast and marginalized even as they’ve dominated the charts.” The eight-eye boot comes in two versions: a standard edition with artwork from Metallica’s 1988 “Damaged Justice” tour by visual artist Pushead, and a black-on-black exclusive available only on Metallica.com inspired by the band’s 1991 self-titled “Black Album.” The three-eye shoe displays artwork from the 1986 “Damage Inc.” tour, also created by Pushead. Both styles include a Metallica ‘M’ heel stud, special edition dog tags, and laces printed with “Boredom comes from a boring mind.” Customers can sign up online to receive the exact drop time for the collection’s launch. (Consequence of Sound)
Producer Michael Beinhorn disclosed that Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is “tone-deaf” during a recent Reddit Ask Me Anything session. Beinhorn produced the band’s third and fourth albums, 1987’s The Uplift Mofo Party Plan and 1989’s Mother’s Milk. He gave an explanation as to why guitarist John Frusciante shared lead vocals with Kiedis on the band’s 1989 single, “Knock Me Down,” saying “John sang the song (or rather, his voice was louder in the mix) because the song was melodic and Anthony was/is tone-deaf (ie- he can’t hear pitch).” Beinhorn added that Frusciante “essentially wrote the song, including the melody.” The producer revealed Kiedis “freaked out- not in a good way” when hearing the finished tracks, adding “I think the band kind of disowned the record because of this.” In a 2003 interview, Frusciante acknowledged Kiedis “doesn’t know anything about music, or notes.” (Consequence of Sound)
The first official documentary about rock and roll pioneer Eddie Cochran is in production, featuring exclusive interviews with Keith Richards, Yungblud, Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Rod Stewart, Kiefer Sutherland, Sting, John Waters, Billy Idol, Linda Perry, Peter Frampton, Brian Setzer, Suzi Quatro, Stephen Sanchez, and Cochran family members. Titled Don’t Forget Me, the film chronicles Cochran’s brief but influential career from age 18 until his death at 21 on April 17, 1960. In a short teaser clip for the film, Sutherland reveals that he nearly portrayed Cochran in a biopic, saying “I’m 18, 19 years old and I was given a screenplay that was gonna tell the life of Eddie Cohran—tragically the short life of Eddie Cochran.” Cochran created classics including “Twenty Flight Rock,” “C’Mon Everybody,” “Somethin’ Else” and the iconic “Summertime Blues,” which became a Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 hit in 1958. Director Kirsty Bell‘s documentary comes from Goldfinch Entertainment along with participation from the Cochran Family Estate, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and Universal Music Enterprises. Release details will be announced soon. (Billboard)
Public Enemy’s Chuck D and The Doors drummer John Densmore have teamed up for a new collaborative project doPE, and will release their debut album, no country for old men, on Record Store Day, April 18th. Their lead single, “every tick tick tick,” has already been named Record Store Day Song of the Year ahead of the release. The duo connected at a 2014 Record Store Day panel, with Chuck emailing Densmore a year later stating “You’ve got the beats, I’ve got the rhymes, let’s make doPE.” The project name combines Doors first two letters with Public Enemy’s initials. Chuck D states: “John Densmore’s beat isn’t just rhythm, it’s history talking. He’s been scoring moments of our culture for decades, and that wisdom hits different when it meets the now. This collaboration is about locking generations together and pushing sound forward.” The album will be released on limited-edition vinyl exclusively at independent shops on Record Store Day. (Consequence of Sound)