Bryan Adams' iconic hit "Summer of '69" is a staple on any summer playlist, and the song is marking its 40th anniversary this year. The rock classic, released in 1984, remains a beloved anthem for many, capturing the nostalgia and spirit of youthful summers.

In a recent interview with the Sunday Post, he explained of the song, "It's taken a long time for the song to become what it is today. Originally the title was 'The Best Days Of My Life,' but it wasn't an easy record to make even though I had a good skeleton of a song. I recorded it twice and demoed it three times. Although it was good, it still wasn’t right." He added, "One night I went out to a bar to see this ska band and noticed drummer Pat Steward. I asked him if he'd like to come in and record with me the next day. That was all I needed to turn it into an exciting record. And Pat's still drumming in the band today."

As Adams celebrates this milestone, he continues to evolve in his music career by embarking on his first tour as an independent artist with the "Roll with the Punches" North American 2025 tour. This 40-date arena tour coincides with the release of his new album under his independent label, Bad Records, launched in August 2024. Special guests Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will open for Adams on all U.S. dates, while The Sheepdogs will provide direct support in Canada (excluding Calgary and Kelowna), and Amanda Marshall will join as support on in Calgary and Kelowna.

In a statement, Adams said of the upcoming trek, "I'm so thrilled to be announcing the North American leg of the 'Roll With The Punches Tour.' We'll be playing all the classics, some deep cuts, and sharing some brand new tracks from the forthcoming album."

Adams is also set to perform at this year's 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival presented by Capital One, alongside a star-studded lineup in Las Vegas. Tickets to the festival are currently on sale AXS.com. Fans can also tune in to the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival as the music mega event will be broadcast live each night via iHeartMedia radio stations throughout the country across more than 150 markets. Hulu will be the Official Streaming Destination of the festival, with performances livestreamed each night exclusively to all Hulu subscribers.

Listen to Bryan Adams' iconic song "Summer of '69" and the rest of his legendary music on iHeartRadio.

The Alan Cox Show