With Christmas officially in the rearview, it’s time to sit back, relax and look back on the year that was. Even briefly looking back at 2023, we must say this year was kind of a weird, chaotic one.
This fun, whimsical list isn’t meant for recapping earth-shattering things. Oh, no…this list is meant for the leftfield things that seemed to happen for no reason whatsoever. Again, 2023 was far more random than any of us realize until you actually sit and think about it. We cannot stress this enough!
Before moving forward, we would like to make one thing clear: This list isn’t about looking back and saying, “Hey, do you remember that (insert celebrity here) died in 2023?” Sadly, we have a whole separate list just about notable celebrity deaths in 2023. While 2023 was whimsically unique, it was also pretty brutal. Many true icons and legends sadly left us.
A lot of strange things happened, as you’ll see in the list below. We saw a controversial classic rock song covered and updated by a modern rock band. We had one of the biggest classic rock bands continue to be filled with drama. (And no, we’re not talking about KISS.) Plus, one classic rock icon earned a major win he’s wanted for decades.
On top of all of that, we saw one notable figure in rock have a fall from grace that was equal parts shocking and laughable. Plus, there were unexpected and welcomed returns, particularly one that happened during the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony.
Without further ado, here are nine things that happened in the classic rock/pop world in 2023 that you may have forgotten about. Repeat: This year was friggin’ weird! That being said, enjoy this trip down memory lane. Here’s hoping 2024 is just as random. It just makes life more interesting.
Jann Wenner Goes Off the Deep End
In an interview with The New York Times published in September, Rolling Stone/Rock & Roll Hall of Fame co-founder Jann Wenner was pressed on why he didn’t highlight any Black people or any women in his book, The Masters. The book is a collection of interviews Wenner conducted with seven rock subjects. All seven subjects were white men.
Wenner said, in part, “The people had to meet a couple criteria, but it was just kind of my personal interest and love of them. Insofar as the women, just none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level.” Wenner went on to namecheck the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. However, he stuck to his “articulate” reasoning even with these beloved and respected music icons.
After the interview went viral, Wenner was removed from the Board of Directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation.
Jann S. Wenner, Mick Jagger and Ahmet Ertegun at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 19th Annual Induction Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel March 15, 2004 in New York City.
Journey's Legal Drama
The status of Journey has appeared a bit strained in recent years, and in early 2023, it took a weird legal turn. In January, ongoing legal issues between guitarist Neal Schon and keyboardist Jonathan Cain led to accusations against Cain’s wife, televangelist Paula White-Cain.
In a cease-and-desist letter obtained by the New York Post, Schon accuses White-Cain of having access to various Journey bank accounts. The letter stated, in part, “We have learned that despite the prior mutual agreement between Mr. Schon and Mr. Jonathan Cain that the business of the band and the Journey Related Entities would be handled only by Mr. Schon and Mr. Cain as individuals, your name appears as an authorized signatory on the City National Bank accounts of Freedom JN LLC.”
Additionally, the letter stated, “We further demand that you immediately cease and desist and refrain in the future from inserting yourself in any business of the band and any legal entities used by the band as this contradicts the existing agreement between Mr. Schon and Mr. Cain.”
Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon somehow keep things professional on stage with Journey. We honestly don’t know how they do it. (Ethan Miller, Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
