Marc Seal - Can you say SHREDS?

This is my new favorite guitar player. You can tell he was heavily influenced by SRV, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. I discovered him while watching one of those local cable channels and was shocked that they had someone with talent on their rinky-dink little show!! He's on tour on the East Coast but lives in my area so I hope to see him live soon.

Public Apology to The Grateful Dead

I am sincerely sorry that I overlooked the members of this band that are deceased. I feel really bad about it. So I will be updating "Gone But Not Forgotten" today to include these guys:

Jerry Garcia
Brent Mydland
Vince Welnick
Ron "Pigpen" McKernan
Keith Godchaux

The Dead is known for many things but the first thing I always think of is their immense, intense following. Deadheads are probably the most loyal, committed fans in history! Any Deadheads out there? Again, I don't know how they missed my list and I thank the two readers who caught this major faux pas.

I am GRATEFUL to:

Bond, of Big Leather Couch
and

Peter H, of Filmaking 101

for pointing this out to me!

"Their musical influences varied widely with input from the psychedelic rock of the era, combined with blues, jazz, rock and roll, and bluegrass. These various influences were distilled into a diverse and psychedelic whole that made the Grateful Dead "the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world."

Rock Songs on Commericals!

There is a great post on "Classic Rock" called "Is Advertising Killing Rock and Roll" and it inspired me to write about all the songs I can think of that use rock/pop songs to sell their goods.



I won't pretend to understand the business end of all this - but am I wrong to think that the person who wrote the song, let's say Bob Seeger, is the one who ultimately sold out? If so WHY? Why would an artist do that to their work? Will someone please educate me on this topic? How does this happen????

And...does it bother you? It drives me NUTS!

Here's a few, please feel free to add more to the list (I didn't include any from the above mentioned article, you'll have to check it for more).

"Rock and Roll" by Led Zeppelin - Cadillac
"Revolution" by The Beatles - Nike
"Like a Rock" by Bob Seeger - Chevy Trucks
"Fortunate Son" by CCR - Wrangler Jeans
"Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynrd - KFC
"Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones - Mircosoft
"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who - Nissan
"Taxman" by The Beatles - H&R Block

I know there are more but I can't match them up, help me out here:
Cat Stevens, Eric Clapton, Marvin Gaye, Styx, Aretha Franklin....probably hundreds more!

Singing with Elvis - Question for You

A couple of people have talked about the Celine Dion/Elvis duet on last night's American Idol. My personal opinion is that it was a weird match up, I would have chose someone else to sing with The King. (had to say that cause it rhymed!) Who do you think would be the perfect person to sing a duet with Elvis? I'll let you know my answer later.

Jeff Beck on American Idol

Well two "out of the ordinary" things are happening as I type this.

The first, I am actually watching American Idol AND I have a wireless connection! The show, if you haven't heard, is a special edition that's all about giving back and its actually really good! I really like some of the people they have on the show, and of course my close personal friend, Bono, is going to show up too.

It's awesome that FINALLY more people are taking notice of the poverty and need around us. Do you every worry that you won't have enough food or a roof over your head? If not, please consider how much you can spare to help someone who does have those concerns. We are really blessed. My charities of choice are

The Little Red Wagon Foundation - this organization was started and is run by a NINE year old boy, watch his video, cry, open your heart and then give what you can. Even a little bit helps a lot. All the money goes to homeless kids here in the US.

The One Campaign I'm sure you are all familiar with this one.



p.s. i think Jack Black is really cute

New Joe Strummer Biography

I received an email about this new book today so I am passing the info on to you. It sounds like an exceptionally well done biography. The guy that sent the email is offering free copies of the book and an opportunity to interview the author. If anyone would like to more info, that email me at: bll127925@yahoo.com

REDEMPTION SONG: The Ballad of Joe Strummer ($27.00) will be published by Faber & Faber on May 23, 2007. I have copies of the book available for review and giveaway as well as access to the author, so please let me know if you would be interested in setting up an interview…

Art and Music Collide - AMAZING

You know what, you really don't want to miss out on this video. I promise you that if you start watching this guy, you will not be able to stop. Be sure to watch it all the way to see the short interview with him. He died a few years ago, RIP Denny.

What he does: Turns on a song, lets say "Layla" (which is actually on this video) then paints the artist, in a matter of minutes! YOU HAVE TO SEE IT to believe it!

Do you know what you were doing....

15 years ago today? Perhaps like my blog friend Becky (The PopEye), and I, you were watching

this

Say It Isn't So!

The other day I ran across something in the news that I chose to ignore. But then today I read this on my friend's blog: Isaiah Knows Nothing.

(I'll just copy what he said, but you should visit his blog sometimes, its very calming and uplifting.)

"Please, someone wake me up and say that Bono & the Edge aren't really writing the music & lyrics for Broadway's Spiderman: The Musical! Now, Springsteen will pop up soon on TV singing his heart out for American Express or Ford... wait and see.

When I first started cringing with fear after Michael Jackson bought the Beatles Catalogue it was some time before my heroes (not that Michael Jackson was ever one of them) started selling off their catalogues for cash-olla. Hearing a Beatles tune to sell shoes, financial advice…and Target brand merchandise turns one’s stomach. The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin, Sir Paul, even Bob Dylan have sold their music for cars, TV programs, credit cards, financial firms, etc. Who would have ever thought?

When U2 turned down money from Apple a few years back to partake in the i-pod campaign… I thought that was class. Fitting with what one would expect U2 to do.

Spiderman? Bono, the Edge? I just don’t get it."

My comment back:

Man...when I saw this in a news article I ignored it, I just didn't want it to be true, its just..weird. They must have some good humanitarian excuse for doing it right???

So far Bruce is one of the FEW that has not given in and sold his music for commercial reasons and he darn well better not! It's very disturbing to hear Zeppelin, The Who, etc. etc. selling cars and stuff :(

Important Questions, I'd love your thoughts:

By now you have probably heard the news that in the U.S. Internet radio may soon be a thing of the past. I signed the petition so save it because I really like Pandora and listen all day at work.

But, how is all this affecting the artists? Thats my only concern. These days their music can be downloaded and shared, etc. etc.

Do you think that's wrong?

Do you think true artists are not in it for the money?

Do you think we rip them off by buying their music for low prices or getting it for free?

Also, do you ever listen to Internet Radio? If so, which one do you like best?

Here's the link to "Save Internet Radio"

Universal Soilder by Donovan

This song was written in the 60's:
He's five foot-two, and he's six feet-four,
He fights with missiles and with spears.
He's all of thirty-one, and he's only seventeen,
Been a soldier for a thousand years.

He'a a Catholic, a Hindu, an Atheist, a Jain,
A Buddhist and a Baptist and a Jew.
And he knows he shouldn't kill,
And he knows he always will,
Kill you for me my friend and me for you.

And he's fighting for Canada,
He's fighting for France,
He's fighting for the USA,
And he's fighting for the Russians,
And he's fighting for Japan,
And he thinks we'll put an end to war this way.

And he's fighting for Democracy,
He's fighting for the Reds,
He says it's for the peace of all.
He's the one who must decide,
Who's to live and who's to die,
And he never sees the writing on the wall.

But without him,
How would Hitler have condemned him at Dachau?
Without him Caesar would have stood alone,
He's the one who gives his body
As a weapon of the war,
And without him all this killing can't go on.

He's the Universal Soldier and he really is to blame,
His orders come from far away no more,
They come from here and there and you and me,
And brothers can't you see,
This is not the way we put the end to war.

Music for the occasion?

I can't even listen to music tonight. Too much sorrow, anger, injustice, evil, uncaring...

I recommend you reading the post on Wonder Boy's blog today, I posted a link to it on my other blog and included a photo of some young Iraqi mean grieving the loss of a loved one.

Will things ever change?

Beatles studio film - Hey Bulldog

I highly recommend this video! If you watch, pay attention to the details, the nuances, the way John and Paul share the mic, how serious George seems on the bass, how Ringo is wearing a tie! Notice how damn good they sounded together and how much fun they seemed to have as the music just naturally flowed. You won't be able NOT to notice John's sideburns. I loved this video. I loved seeing them so young and un-jaded by all the things that happened later....

Some Genesis Fans not Happy about Phil...

"I've never quite understood the venomous loathing some Genesis fans and rock music fans in general have always leveled at Phil Collins, the man behind that band's most commercially successful period. But of course that's probably because I've never been interested in the least in the weird, quirky, dense and obscure art rock of the Peter Gabriel-led, '70s version of Genesis. So, with apologies to the other camp, this summer's reunion tour featuring the band's core '80s lineup of Collins, Mike Rutherford and Tony Banks seems to me to be one of rock's most exciting nostalgia tours of the past few years."

from Steve Peake at About 80's Rock

I've always liked Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins, hard to compare the two since they are so different...I guess if I had to pick one it would be Peter.

In memory of Kurt Vonnegut, His thoughts on The Blues:

No matter how corrupt, greedy, and heartless our government, our corporations, our media, and our religious and charitable institutions may become, the music will still be wonderful.

If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED

FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

WAS MUSIC

Now, during our catastrophically idiotic war in Vietnam, the music kept getting better and better and better. We lost that war, by the way. Order couldn't be restored in Indochina until the people kicked us out.

That war only made billionaires out of millionaires. Today's war is making trillionaires out of billionaires. Now I call that progress.

And how come the people in countries we invade can't fight like ladies and gentlemen, in uniform and with tanks and helicopter gunships?

Back to music. It makes practically everybody fonder of life than he or she would be without it. Even military bands, although I am a pacifist, always cheer me up. And I really like Strauss and Mozart and all that, but the priceless gift that African Americans gave the whole world when they were still in slavery was a gift so great that it is now almost the only reason many foreigners still like us at least a little bit. That specific remedy for the worldwide epidemic of depression is a gift called the blues. All pop music today ­ jazz, swing, be-bop, Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Stones, rock-and-roll, hip-hop, and on and on ­ is derived from the blues.

the rest can be read here:
Vonnegut's Blues for America

Expanding My Musical Horizons

As long as I can remember (way back to age 4) I have been listening to rock music primarily from the 60's - 80's. I am always open to new music and enjoy trying something new...but I never actually OWNED much other than my classic rock collection with some jazz, classical, blues thrown in to round things out.

But then a couple of months ago I discovered legalsounds.com and have bought a ton of music from them. At first I felt like it just be a scam, or illegal, or that somehow I would get ripped off, apparently it's totally legitimate. So I have been downloading songs from there for 9 cents each rather than iTunes for 99 cents each. I told myself I could by 1,000 songs for a grand total of $90 which saves me $900! NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS!



Here are some of my new faves to listen to along with the greats like Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Etc. I know it's not all rock and roll....don't tease me about any of my choices! Some of these I had one or two songs of, but now I've been able to expand my collection a bit. Grand total on iPod is now 2,957.

Benjamin Biolay, The Wallflowers,
The Black Crowes, Jonny Lang, The Fray,
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sarah McLachlan, The Killers, Pearl Jam, The Chruch,
Beth Orton, Govt, Mule, Gran Bel Fisher, Evanescence, Daniel Powter,
The Gin Blossoms, The Mars Volta, Artic Monkeys,
Guster, Zero 7, Stone Temple Pilots,
Nick Drake, Days of the New,
The Flaming Lips, Savage Garden,
Third Eye Blind, Five for Fighting, Foo Fighters, India Arie, Joss Stone, The Strokes, Death Cab for Cutie, Gnarls Barkley, The Shins, John Legend, Ministry of Sound,
Toad the Wet Sprocket, Carrie Underwood, The Goo Goo Dolls, Aimee Mann, James Blunt, Leona Naess,

The Eels, Snow Patrol, Soundgarden, and last, but in no way least...Nick Cave.

Bass Player Needed

Anybody out there up for playing bass for Guns N Roses?

Tommy Stinson injured himself after "accidentally" falling down a flight of stairs, prompting the band to cancel a string of international dates.

Poor guy, he says ""I feel so bad right now," explains bassist Tommy Stinson. "I accidentally fell down a flight of stairs. I put my hand down to break my fall and heard a loud 'pop.' The next morning my hand looked like a balloon. I went to see my doctor and while the good news is that it’s not broken, the bad is news is it's severely sprained and I may have done some ligament damage. We had our last rehearsal a few days ago and shipped the gear to Japan and then this happened. I feel horrible.

The Us Festival

Were any of you at "The Us Festival" in Sept. 1982 or May 1983? It was one of the biggest events in rock and roll here in the US - a four day outdoor event packed with people. I didn't go. My sister did and I may ask her to be a guest poster to share her story - it's wild.

My question for you:

Have you ever been to a big outdoor music festival?
If so, when, where and who played? Would you do it again?
and
Which of these days would you have wanted to attend if you could only go to one?

Check out the bands that played in 1983 !!!

Friday:
The Divynls
INXS
Wall of Voodoo
Oingo Boingo
The English Beat
The Stray Cats
Men at Work
The Clash

Saturday (Country day)
Riders In The Sky
Thrasher Brothers
Ricky Skaggs
Hank Williams Jr.
Emmylou Harris & The Hot Band
Waylon Jennings
Alabama
Willie Nelson

Sunday (Heavy Metal Day)

Quiet Riot

Motley Crue

Ozzy Osbourne

Judas Priest

Triumph

Scorpions
Van Halen

Monday
Little Steven and the Disicples
Berlin
Quarterflash
U2 (wow)
Missing Persons
The Pretenders
Joe Walsh
Stevie Nicks
David Bowie

check out the website: The US Festival, this was a HUGE event! Look at those 80's people! LOL!

Springsteen Made Surprise Appearance!!!

I WISH I WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!

The Beach Boys - A Sad Story

It was 42 years ago today that the Beach Boys recorded California Girls. My grandparents lived in the same neighborhood as the Wilsons so it was always cool for me to brag about that when I was a little kid. And when they came out with "Barbara Ann", I lied to all my friends saying my middle name was Ann (lol - I was just a little kid!).

Although they started out with a ton of potential, talent and youthful energy, things didn't go well for the band. After they became hugely successful (on the same level as The Beatles and The Stones in 1966), they fell apart - literally.

In 1961 Brian formed the band with his two younger brothers, Carl and Dennis, his cousin, Mike Love and a friend, Al Jardine. Apparently Brian had some issues with "fame" because his goal became to be more popular than The Beatles (of course at that time he had no idea that The Beatles were going to be... well....The Beatles!).

They hit it big time in 1966 with Pet Sounds, but after that started declining in popularity so Brian QUIT the band!!!

Dennis took the motto "sex, drugs and rock n roll" literally. He was heavily involved in drugs and alcohol and married and divorced five times. He died at the age of 39 after diving off a yacht while intoxicated.

Side-note: I met Dennis and Mike love at a bar in Newport Beach in the early 80's. Dennis was very drunk and eventually Mike took him home. I remember thinking that I should be excited to meet a "Beach Boy" but it was pretty pathetic to see him like that.

Carl left the band for awhile when he felt they were just becoming a "nostalgia act" (he was right, I think people around here got bored seeing them show up at baseball games, and other events, all the time. They had become passe). He eventually rejoined the band and then was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer. Carl toured up to the last months of his life.

Another side note - Carl asked Philip Bardowell to take over for him as lead guitar and vocalist when he could no longer perform. Today Philip leads the worship band at my church and his brother, Habib, is my pastor...kinda cool to listen to rock and roll on Sunday mornings :)

I think the Beach Boys had a lot of talent but let fame and fun get ahead of the music. They are still around today, but I am not sure what they are up to.

Its a sad story if ya ask me.

Weird Song Names Quiz

I don't think I've posted this one before....I just took it and did terrible! Only 6 out of 14.

If you want to give it a try here's the link from About Classic Rock.

There is one answer everyone will get right, a song from this album:


Did you know that they recorded this is under 4 weeks AND that they were not very happy with most of it.

Bob Lefsetz has a great article on the release of this album and why, even though it seemed so "mainstream" (which got The Police a whole new audience and shot them into fame), even the hardcore fans HAD to love these songs! Check it out:

....And then came "Zenyatta Mondatta".

If "Zenyatta Mondatta" had been the debut, the Police would have had no credibility. They would have had a hard time selling out stadiums. For "Zenyatta Mondatta" was a huge left turn into the mainstream.

For hard core Police fanatics "Zenyatta Mondatta" was positively HERETICAL! It was so LIGHTWEIGHT!

I mean really, "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da"?

The band had been famous for being DARK! An ALTERNATIVE to the sunniness on the radio...

The rest is here, must read stuff for Police fans!

Did you hear about Keith snorting his father's ashes?

I'll let you read it from Jeff's site....

Imagine Echoes

All I can say is, Keith is a one-of-a-kind guy!!!

Today in Rock n Roll History:

On April 3, 1969, Jim Morrison was arrested for indecent exposure while on stage performing in Florida.

I wonder, would he have been arrested today for doing the same thing?

What do you think?

Who are the Smartest Celebrities?

According to Mina Hochberg of the Chicago Tribune, these 8 people rank the hightest based on:

"This list is not about people with high IQs or Ivy League degrees; it's not about people who are outspoken, humanitarian or activist; it's not about artistic genius. Not that we deny the smarts of, say, Harvard grads Natalie Portman or Rivers Cuomo, or the Coen Brothers or Thom Yorke. This list isn't about the smartest people in entertainment. It's about people who entertain by being smart, whose intellects illuminate their performances."

See the whole article: @U2 News

1. Stephen Colbert, Host of The Colbert Report

2. Charlie Kaufman, Screenwriter
3. Howard Stern, Satellite radio show host
4. Oprah Winfrey, TV host and media mogul
5. Matt Stone and Trey Parker, Creators of South Park

6. Jon Stewart, Host of The Daily Show
7. Dennis Miller, Comedian/political commentator
8. Bono

U2 back in the Recording Studio

I needed some good news today...
In an exclusive interview with U2's guitarist the Edge, RollingStone.com reports that the Irish megastars are already in the studio working diligently on the follow-up to their Grammy-winning 2004 release, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

Did You Get Loaded Faster?

I got some input from a new reader, Zep, that told me my site loaded too slow and he suggested some changes that seem to have helped. His blog can be found here: The In-Sect

What do you think? A bit more feminine colors, I like it :)