WKGX - Your Classic Hits Station

07/03/2024

As you head out to enjoy fireworks celebrations this Independence Day, it may be a good idea to leave your pet at home. Local humane societies say fireworks frighten animals and a record number go missing on the holiday. Here are some tips to keep your pup or kitty safe:

*Walk dogs early
*Create a safe space with the windows and curtains closed
*Turn up the radio or TV
*Keep cats inside
*Make sure they have hiding spaces
*If you do bring Fido or Fluffy out, make sure you protect them from the noise and flash of fireworks make sure they are wearing identification and are microchipped
*Do not leave them in car… besides the panic that may set in, it’ll be too hot
*For extremely excitable animals, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about tranquilizers. Use vet prescribed meds only.
*For families leaving on the holiday without their pet, board them or leave them with someone you trust.

During the holiday, there are up to 60-percent more lost animals reported. July is National Lost Pet Prevention Month, please keep your pet safe.

07/03/2024

Heart has called off their Royal Flush Tour, which was supposed to kick off at the end of this month. But they had a good reason: Ann Wilson is being treated for CANCER.

In an Instagram post, she says, quote, "I recently underwent an operation to remove something that, as it turns out, was cancerous.

"The operation was successful and I'm feeling great but my doctors are now advising me to undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I've decided to do it."

Because of her treatment, she has to take the rest of the year off.

She added, quote, "This is merely a pause. I've much more to sing . . . Respectfully, this is the last public statement I'd like to make on the matter."

07/02/2024

Tom Petty's estate is signing a deal to distribute the late singer's music catalog. Petty recorded more than 13 studio albums with the Heartbreakers and three solo albums over his 40-year career. The Petty Estate said in a statement that the deal with Warner Chappell Music "will open the door to new licensing opportunities."

07/01/2024

Sounds like a fun time for a great cause. Make your plans to attend!

07/01/2024

The Eagles’ Don Henley has filed a lawsuit to get back his own handwritten lyric sheets from the band’s classic album, “Hotel California.”

The lyric sheets were seized in 2012 during a criminal investigation from two men who tried to sell them at an auction. Henley thought the sheets were being kept in a converted barn on his Los Angeles property, but later found out they were stolen and being auctioned off.

However, the men who stole the lyric sheets had the charges against them dropped due to a technicality. So Henley is now trying to get the items back himself.

07/01/2024

Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill last week designating State Road A1A as “Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.”

The coastal highway runs from Key West all the way to the Georgia border and will have markers designating A1A as Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway in Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River.

The signs will start to get put up on August 30th.

06/27/2024

Coming up on Monday we have something new for you and you start your day in the Catawba Valley! And we’re giving away 3 of these special AT40 mugs to celebrate. So tune in Monday day morning and see what’s brewing! To enter the contest. Like this post and tell us where you listen from!

06/27/2024

Marilyn Monroe‘s house in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood was approved in its historical cultural monument nomination by the Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday, protecting the landmark from demolition.

Monroe lived for approximately six months in the 1929 four-bedroom Spanish Colonial-style house, then died of an apparent overdose there in 1962. The house was “the first place she sought out and bought for herself and on her own while actively working in 1962.”

(Owners Brinah Milstein and her husband, reality TV producer Roy Bank, bought the house last year for $8.35 million and planned to demolish it to expand their property next door. They waged a year-long battle to stop the historical designation.)

The council’s vote was 12 to 0 in favor of adding the house to properties of historical significance.

06/27/2024

Federal officials have gone from “interested” to “involved” in the attempt by an investment group to foreclose on Graceland. Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, sued to stop Naussany Investments and Private Lending LLC” from auctioning off the estate. That sale was blocked by a judge after Keough alleged that the company presented fraudulent documents supposedly showing that her mom, Lisa Marie Presley, had borrowed $3.8-million using a deed of trust for Graceland as security for the loan. The sale of the world-famous property was dropped by Naussany, and now Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti has announced that after they started investigating, “it quickly became apparent that this was a matter best suited for federal law enforcement.”

06/25/2024

Sammy Hagar has spoken about his issues with Eddie Van Halen on Van Halen's lucrative 2004 reunion tour, describing the 80-show tour as "the worst experience in my life"..

The tour, which ran from June 11, 2004 to November 19, 2004, received some horrible reviews from fans and critics alike, with Hagar subsequently admitting that he tried to quit the circus mid-tour, so embarrassed was he by band leader Eddie's unpredictable performances due to his battles with addiction.

Sammy Hagar talks about his experience with David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen. Find AXS TV on your TV -- http://www.axs.tvSubscribe to AXS TV on YouTube -- ...

06/25/2024

The deep archive of music articles on the MTV news website are gone. Paramount Global wiped the sight, sending many angry people to vent online. Included in the purge was the weekly “Mixtape Monday” column that ran for 10 years. On CMT’s website the same happened, only those articles about Country Music and its artists dated back farther. A former editor at MTV news posted “So, mtvnews.com no longer exists. Eight years of my life are gone without a trace. All because it didn’t fit some executives’ bottom lines. Infuriating is too small a word.” Music fans would frequent the sites to pull early info on their favorite artists.

06/25/2024

Happy Global Beatles Day! It's on June 25th, because they did a BBC show called "Our World" on June 25th, 1967.

They were already huge by then. But it was the very first multinational satellite production broadcast live all across the world. So it was a big deal.

400 million people on five continents watched them perform "All You Need Is Love" two weeks before they officially released it.

John Lennon wrote it specifically for the broadcast. He kept the chorus simple, so even people who didn't speak great English would get the message.

Here It Is, The Full Version Of The First Worldwide Broadcast From 1967 Using The Same Technology As The Moon Landing Video Would Later Use In 1969.All You N...

06/24/2024

Jon Bon Jovi‘s new, five-story bar and music venue in downtown Nashville, JBJ’s Nashville, has permanently installed a new hologram unit featuring the rocker.

The unit, which features Jon Bon Jovi as a 4K hologram, was installed by Proto Inc. in partnership with the venue and Big Plan Holdings. Later this year, a second Proto unit will be installed with more members of his namesake band, Bon Jovi, appearing in hologram form.

JBJ’s Nashville will also have the ability to beam in surprise guests as live holograms that can be seen and heard by fans in the club, just as if they were there in person.

This is the first time a Proto hologram unit has been permanently installed in a dedicated music venue or restaurant.

06/21/2024

A Scorpions biopic, "Wind Of Change", is being developed and produced by ESX Entertainment, the company founded by actor, producer and former race car driver Ali Afshar.

"Wind Of Change" will tell the story of "three unlikely friends whose passion for rock 'n' roll fueled their rise from the ashes of post-World War II Germany to the global stardom in the 1980s as the multi-platinum rock band Scorpions.". French-born filmmaker Alex Ranarivelo ("American Wrestler: The Wizard") will direct.

The film is tentatively due in 2025 to coincide with the Scorpions' 60th-anniversary celebrations.

06/20/2024

Paisley Park is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the release of Prince's "Purple Rain" with a series of special events. The celebration kicks off today and will include an exclusive tour of Paisley Park for VIP ticket holders. The Revolution will perform on Friday, while Morris Day and the New Power Generation will perform at the State Theater on Saturday. There will also be a block party on Saturday next to a Prince mural in downtown Minneapolis. The GRAMMY winner died in 2016 of an accidental overdose at his Paisley Park estate.

06/20/2024

Scott Weiland's widow spoke about his legacy, more than eight years after the late Stone Temple Pilots frontman's death.

On December 3rd, 2015, the music world mourned over the loss of Scott Weiland. As his wife and best friend, Jamie Weiland shares fond memories, struggles, an...

06/20/2024

Sony Music is buying the recording and publishing rights to Queen’s extensive catalog for -- $1.27 billion.

The deal encompasses not only the music rights but also other significant assets, excluding the revenue from live performances which remain with the band’s founding members, Brian May and Roger Taylor.

Queen’s repertoire includes timeless hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Will Rock You,” and “We Are the Champions." It continues to resonate globally, ensuring the catalog’s high value. The band’s appeal was further magnified by the success of the 2018 biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which has renewed interest in their music and broadened its influence.

06/18/2024

Stevie Nicks says Fleetwood Mac is done for good, since the passing of Christine McVie in November of 2022.

Quote, "Without Christine, no can do. There is no chance of putting Fleetwood Mac back together in any way. Without her, it just couldn't work . . . Even if I thought I could work with Lindsey [Buckingham] again . . ."He's had some health problems. It's not for me to say, but I'm not sure if Lindsey could do the kind of touring that Fleetwood Mac does, where you go out for a year and half. It's so demanding."(Lindsey had emergency open heart surgery in 2019.)

Stevie is currently on a solo tour, where she does a handful of Fleetwood Mac songs. Quote, "I do ['Landslide'] and we have a beautiful video montage of me and Chris. I can never look at it, though, when I'm singing . . ."I'll just get hysterical and sob. The world is a little bit of an empty place without her . . . I will keep the music of Fleetwood Mac alive, for as long as I can."

06/17/2024

Styx guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw was asked in a new interview when he and his bandmates will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.

Shaw said, “I hope we all live long enough to find the answer to that question. But that's not for me to decide.” He said he has no influence on who goes in, but said if it was up to him Bad Company would already be in the Hall.

Shaw said it’s an honor for anyone who’s inducted, but it doesn’t help a band write their next song.

06/14/2024

For the first time in nearly 16 years, R.E.M. reunited to sing “Losing My Religion” at the Songwriters Hall of Fame gala in New York on Thursday night.

The Athens, Georgia, foursome — Michael Stipe, Mike Mills, Bill Berry and Peter Buck — came together onstage, with Stipe speaking for all four. He said, “Writing songs and having a catalog of work that we’re all proud of that is out there for the rest of the world for all time is hands-down the most important aspect of what we did. Second to that is that we managed to do so all those decades and remain friends. And not just friends, dear friends."

“We are four people that very early on decided that we would own our own masters and we would split our royalties and songwriting credits equally. All for one and one for all.”

The band’s last full concert was in November 2008 in Mexico City. The foursome played a private party for Downs in 2016 but had not performed publicly since 2008.

06/14/2024

The Eagles will become the fourth act to play the Sphere in Las Vegas when their farewell tour, The Long Goodbye, pulls into the venue for eight dates: Sept. 20-21; Sept. 27-28; Oct. 11-12 and Oct. 18-19.

Tickets for the shows will go on sale at 1 p.m. ET June 21 at eagles.com. Tickets start at $175 (all-in pricing).

Registration for the band's presale is available now on the Eagles' site. The presale begins at 1 p.m. ET June 18, while a Live Nation presale starts at 1 p.m. ET June 20. A limited number of VIP packages will also go on sale at 1 p.m. ET June 18 on the band's website.

06/14/2024

Today is Flag Day. So, what is Flag Day? It's a celebration of the American flag that occurs each year on the anniversary of the flag’s official adoption, June 14. ”Flag Day” was celebrated as a patriotic occasion for many decades, but it was President Woodrow Wilson who made the observance official by a presidential proclamation on May 30, 1916.

06/13/2024

Bruce Springsteen is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his song "Born In The USA." He's set to release a new translucent red vinyl of the record this week. It comes in a new gatefold package and will also include a booklet, four-color lithograph, and new liner notes. The new vinyl will be available to purchase on Friday.

06/13/2024

Def Leppard gave fans a sneak peak of their song "Just Like 73" this week and now it’s out. In a message on social media, the band posted a pair of phone numbers for fans in the U.K. and the U.S. to call. They'll be greeted with a recorded message and a short snippet of the song. The band dropped "Just Like '73'' featuring Tom Morello today and it marks the first new original material from Def Leppard since their 2022 album "Diamond Star Halos."

Provided to YouTube by Universal Music GroupJust Like 73 (Tom Morello Version) · Def LeppardJust Like 73℗ 2024 Bludgeon Riffola Limited, under exclusive lice...

06/12/2024

Everyone is invited as Hickory native Robert Dillingham is a top-ranked prospect in the draft. The celebration is being presented by the City of Hickory Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism Department along with several community sponsors.

06/12/2024

The model who inspired the album cover of Duran Duran's "Rio" has finally been identified . . . 42 years later. Her name is Marcie Hunt and she was a model in a 1981 issue of "Vogue Paris".

The late artist Patrick Nagel saw her photo in the magazine, and used her smile, eyes, and face shape as a reference.

Marcie says, quote, "This is so cool! I absolutely did not know until now that this photo of me was used for the cover. Very exciting! Love Duran Duran, and danced to their music often in the '80s. And later at my wedding."

06/11/2024

Paired with their about-to-launch summer Renegades & Juke Box Heroes tour, Styx and Foreigner have announced a special companion album that features both iconic rock band’s biggest and most well-known hits.

The tour kicks off June 11 with special guest John Waite.

The companion album will be available in a few formats, with a picture disc vinyl capped at 1,000 copies. It will be available at the merchandise booth on the road, as well as in limited quantities at retailers.

06/10/2024

Bon Jovi played a surprise five-song set in Nashville on Friday.

The intimate performance celebrated the grand opening of JBJ’s, the new rooftop bar and restaurant owned by Jon Bon Jovi. It also came on the day Bon Jovi released their sixteenth studio album, "Forever".

Jon’s voice appeared pitchy but strong during the Nashville club set.

Later, Jon addressed his absence from performing.

“It’s been a couple of years since I’ve been up on a stage with some people in the house. Too long, too long. Yeah, it feels good. I hope it sounds good, because it feels good.”

Bon Jovi also acknowledged Nashville’s importance in his band’s history, noting that they’d spent “so much time” writing and recording in the town. “I always jokingly say, Nashville, this is my people.”

Setlist: 1. Blood on Blood [0:00]2. We Weren't Born To Follow [6:17]3. You Give Love A Bad Name [12:32]4. Born To Be My Baby [16:53]5. Legendary [23:43]