Like Father, Like Son

I heard about this over at Matt's blog, Addicted to Vinyl.

It reminds me of when Eddie Van Halen had his son Wolfgang (only 15 years old at the time!) play bass on their last tour. Very cool.

Now Mighty Max's son, Jay, will be replacing him as the E-Street drummer on several dates that Max is unable to make. Jay is only 18! He must be damn good cause his dad is not an easy act to follow. I kinda wish he was playing the night I'm going, that would fun!

Kind of reminds me of Jason Bonham playing with Zeppelin for their reunion concert.

"GIVE THE DRUMMER'S SON SOME
Here's how the change was made uptown and Jay Weinberg joined the band -- at least for "six or seven shows of the European tour," according to Andy Greene at Rollingstone.com:

Last December E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg was driving his 18-year-old son Jay to school in Hoboken, New Jersey, when Bruce Springsteen called. "He wanted to talk to Jay," says Max. "He said to him, 'Jay, this is Bruce. You may have heard I have a band. In that band I have the world's greatest drummer, who has a scheduling conflict. He gave me your name and number and suggested that I call you to see if you’d be interested in playing with me and the E Street Band.' " Jay accepted."

Taken from Backstreets.com

Another Rant About Ticketmaster

Tickets for the local U2 show go on sale next Monday. I should be happy, thrilled, ecstatic.

Instead I feel nervous, anxious and angry because obtaining concert tickets is such a negative experience. In some ways its like playing the lotto - a few get lucky, but many will walk away with NOTHING. Its grossly unfair and the ticket industry’s greed is disgusting.

I’m not referring to the price of tickets (that’s for another day), what infuriates me is how ticket scalpers (aka ticket brokers or agencies) buy huge quantities of tickets than turn around and sell them for two, three or even four times face value. It forces fans that want choice seats to shell out big bucks. Its just plain wrong!

Its at times like this that I ask myself, where the heck are Eddie Vedder and Trent Reznor when you need them?

Remember back in 1994 when Pearl Jam addressed Congress? They clearly spelled out what goes on behind the scenes. They did an excellent job of showing the world how greedy and unfair it is to have one company, specifically Ticketmaster, controlling ticket sales for all the major events in the USA You can read the transcript here, its very informative. Peal Jam went to bat for their FANS and I will forever be grateful for their efforts and willingness to make changes (Eddie, I’d like to thank you in person, call me!)

Then there’s Nine Inch Nails. Those guys took things a step further and made sure their fans had a fair shot at getting GOOD seats at face value! Trent Reznor does a great job of summarizing how NIN deals with this issue (read the article for details of the hows and whys, I found it very enlightenting):

"We have essentially stopped scalping by doing these things - because we want true fans to be able to get great seats and not get ripped off by these parasites."

Once again, my personal thanks to Trent (you have my number, lets do lunch!)

I am seriously considering starting a grassroots movement to put an end to unfair monopolization of concert ticket sales!! Anyone want to join me? Lets do it!

New Dylan!

Hot of the press from Arbell at Sony Music, and there's a Free Download of First Track!!

The first track from Bob Dylan’s forthcoming release, Together Through Life, has been posted as a free download on BobDylan.com. Titled “Beyond Here Lies Nothin’”, the song will be available for free from midnight, March 30th through midnight, March 31st. Together Through Life will be released on Columbia Records on April 28th.

The new album will be the 46th release from Bob Dylan, and follows 2006’s Platinum album Modern Times, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 and reached the top of the charts in seven additional countries and the Top 5 in 22 countries around the world.

Any Dylan fans out there?  I'm a huge fan of his early stuff, he lost me for a few years but Modern Times was excellent!

Hmmm, I'm liking that album cover art too....very sensual. 

David Bowie - Always One Step Ahead of the Rest of Us

Way back on this date in 1999, David launched an Internet radio station, "The David Bowie Internet Radio Network" Their first show was Bowie's introducing each of his favorite songs track by track.

You gotta admire that! He's always been an avante garde kinda guy, but also very a savvy business man who obviously recognized what a HUGE force the Internet would become. Then of course there's also his website, which is really more of a network:

Bowie Net

I heard a rumor that he's in the studio recording....PLEASE LET IT BE TRUE!

Rock On Digital

There's a new site out there that looks pretty good:  Rock On Digital

"The only place on the web where you can experience exclusive classic rock shows, previews, concerts, studio sessions, videos, audio tracks, interviews and so much more."

I'm not the type to say "I told you so" or "I was right!". Sometimes I think it and someone can read it on my face, but I just can't say the words.

But since you can't see my face, I have to tell you: I was right! About a year ago I posted about a new radio station that started up in my area and said I was in love with it.

The comments left were along the lines of "don't get your hopes up, they all start out good then go downhill from there."

I am happy to say that The Sound LA has gone above and BEYOND my expectations! They play the perfect mix of both old and new music. They play deep tracks that the other popular stations around here would not touch. They have very little advertising and the DJs are not annoying or arrogant, they talk about The Music.

They have several weekly features that I look forward to (makes my dat at work survivable). For example, right not I am listening to "Ten at 10:00". Each day they play ten songs from the same year, today's year is the year that The Beatles had their last studio session: 1970

They also have host live events in their studio, an artist will come in every now and then and do a mini-concert on the air (yesterday was the Bacon Brothers).

One other feature that I love is "My Turn" where they invite musicians to be a DJ for an hour or so and play whatever they want. Its sometimes suprising and always interesting to hear what songs are selected. Some of the guests they've had on are BB King, Noel Gallager, Tom Morello, The Pretenders, Brian Wilson, Gavin Rossdale and O.A.R.

Anyhow, just wanted to tell you all about it in case you feel like checking them out online. Classic Rock rocks, but you know the saying: Man can not live on bread alone? Well I can't live on classic rock alone - I dig the new stuff too :)

(as I end this post they are playing a song by Drew's favorite band...."The Immigrant Song")

Rock and Roll Guru Wrote About Me :)

One of the coolest rock and roll bloggers on the planet (Earth) did a post on me today as a precursor to his post about the song "Layla". I am honored! If you don't know Joe or read his blog you are missing out. He's also the author of The Rock and Roll Dictionary (hilarious must read!) and is in the process of having his second book published.


Thanks for the mention, Joe!!!

Songfacts Top Ten Videos

Songfacts asked their readers to pick their top ten favorite music videos.  To see which ones came out on top check here.

This is my favorite out of their selections:

"Sledgehammer" is a celebration of modern animation. Award winning animators The Brothers Quay used claymation, pixilation, and stop motion to give life to a plethora of normally inanimate objects. Never mind the technical stuff, the video is just fascinating and entertaining from beginning to end, from the model train encircling Gabriel's head, to the dancing chickens, to the singing fruit sculptures. The filming of the Gabriel stills for the video required him to lie under glass for 16 hours. The ending features Johnson and Gabriel's friends and family, the entire team of animators and a whole slew of ever-shifting furniture. It's all fascinating and fun, and impossible to look away from.

The technical stuff, of course, is important. This video has plenty to offer. In 1987 it won nine MTV Music Video awards. Nine. That record held for 21 years. I am apparently not the only person to love this video, MTV says it is the most played video in the history of the station, and is considered MTV's #1 animated video of all time."

This Day in Music...

2001, A stretch of road on Highway 19 in Macon, Georgia, was named Duane Allman Boulevard, near where the Allman Brothers guitarist died aged 24 in a motorcycle crash on October 29, 1971.

1997, US soul singer Harold Melvin died aged 57. (1972 US No.3 & 1974 UK No.9 single 'If You Don't Know Me By Know').

1991, The Black Crowes were dropped as the support act on ZZ Top's tour after repeatedly criticising the tour sponsor Miller Beer.

1973, Alice Cooper went to No.1 on the UK album chart with 'Billion Dollar Babies.' Also a No.1 in the US.

1973, During a Lou Reed show in Buffalo, New York, a fan jumped on stage and bit Lou on the bottom. The man was thrown out of the theatre and Reed completed the show.

Clash Fans:

Sean over at "Pod" has written an excellent post on why The Clash are so damn good, and what is missing in some of today's music. Here is a porition of what he has to say, visit him for the rest (there are also some great videos included in his post)

Double albums are tricky as you really have to vary the pace to maintain interest throughout. No such issues arise with "London Calling". The Clash take rock, pop, punk, reggae and ska, mix it up and blast it back with lyrics that touch on many themes. Lots of energy and real human beings playing the shit out of their instruments results in an urgency that reaches out of the speakers and demands to be heard.

Current popular music has many deficiencies. Most notably: 1) It's BORING 2) Most of it sounds fake. 3) Zero energy

This stuff is almost thirty years old and sounds as if it was released last week. The main reason? It didn't take them three years to record! In a matter of weeks, they hit these songs hard with a minimum amount of takes and retained an excitement that is sorely lacking in today's homogenized product.

FYI: Bruce on Jon Stewart Tomorrow Night

Bruce Springsteen will be a guest on Comedy Central's
"The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,"
this Thursday, March 19.

The Guitar Kid

OH MAN!  This is incredible....someone left me a comment on the last post with a link to their son's website.  I want you all to remember Ryan Cagide so when he's world famous you can say "I first heard of him at Layla's....."

This kid is impressive!  Check out the list of concerts he's already seen at age 11 and all the artists he's met.  He's off to a great start!

Davy Knowles - Good News, Bad News

My favorite new band of 2008 was Back Door Slam. The first time I heard Davy Knowles sing (knowing he was only a kid) I was blown away! I hadn't been that impressed by a new artist since...well, since I heard Jonny Lang for the first time (no offense to Jonny, I love him, but I think Davy's got a rare talent that we don't see often).

Sadly, the band broke up recently. That's the bad news.

The good news is that Davy will continue his career as a solo artist and has been has been recording new material in Los Angeles with none other than Peter Frampton producing. And he's going on tour opening for Jeff Beck beginning April 6 in Scranton, PA.

Be looking for a review of BACK DOOR SLAM—LIVE FROM BONNAROO—a double vinyl album that I will be receiving from Blix Street. Can't wait for that!

This Day in Music

1969, Cream started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with their album 'Goodbye.'

1969, Janis Joplin was featured on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, on sale for 35 Cents.

1975, The Doobie Brothers went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Black Water', the groups first of two US No.1's.

1975, Led Zeppelin went to No.1 on the UK chart with the double album 'Physical Graffiti', the first on their own 'Swan Song' label, the album spent six weeks at No.1 on the US chart.

1977, Pink Floyd played the first of six sold-out nights at Empire Pool, Wembley, London, England.

1989, The Rolling Stones signed a $70 million (£40 million) contract to play 50 North American dates. It was the largest contract in rock history.

1999, Bruce Springsteen was inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame by U2's Bono.

2002, Yoko Ono unveiled a seven foot bronze statue of John Lennon overlooking the check- in hall of Liverpool John Lennon airport. The re-branding of the airport featured a sketch of Lennon's face with the words 'Above Us Only Skies.'

Taken from "This Day in Music"

1005th Post

Hey, I just noticed that I have passed the "1000th" post mark! This is #1005 for this blog.

Most people do a special post to commemorate their 1000th post. So here it is:

I started this blog in March 2005 at the insistence of a friend. It was lonely at first writing and having the rare comment pop up here or there, but as blogging became more popular I met more and more people - some have become good friends, all have become special to me.

Music brings people together. We certainly don't all have the same taste, but most of you who read here share a passion for music and on that level we have a bond.

I've met some young people here that know more about the music of era than I do (especially Jeff, one of my loyal readers from the start!). Nothing thrills me more than young (under 30) people who appreciate Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, etc. etc.

I've gotten to know some very sweet women via this blog because their husbands read here (this is definitely a male dominant readership, my bros in rock and roll!).

Some of you enjoy having heated debates in my comments - I love that! As long as people are not mean to each other I think its great voice diverse opinions.

Then there are the way cool Rockin Blogger Chicks. You know who you are :)

There's a few of you out there that know what my son is dealing with right now and you've emailed to express your concern and hug me with your words, it makes a difference. It helps me know that even though I feel alone, I'm not.

Now and then I find myself thinking "I have nothing more to say. I should just quit this whole blog thing". But I can't now, cause I have a cool new header. And because even when life gets dark, music is there to carry me through.

So if you're a regular reader or just found Layla's Classic Rock, I want to say a huge

THANK YOU

Its because of you that I made it to post 1005.

Love you,
Layla
(aka Barbara)

Layla Makes A Mistake...

OOPs, I'm sure its not the first or last mistake I will make - but I said that I was giving away a Jeff Beck CD, only to realize its not.  Its a SALUTE to Jeff Beck that has:

1. You Know What I Mean - Hal Lindes, Brian Tarquin

2. Big Block - James Ryan

3. People Get Ready - Doug Doppler

4. Pump - Howard Hart

5. Blue Wind - Doug Doppler, Billy Sheehan, Brian Tarquin

6. Scatterbrain - Steve Bingham

7. Star Cycle - Chris Mahoney

8. Play with Me - Randy Coven, Brian Tarquin

9. Two Rivers - Martin Winch

10. Plynth Water Down the Drain - Larry VanFleet

11. You Never Know/Nadia - Pom-E-Granite

12. Led Boots - Greg Rapaport

13. Where Were You - Steve Booke

Match the Guitar Player to the Band

1. Kerry Livgren
2. Tom Johnston
3. Michael Shenker
4. Buck Dharma
5. Robert Fripp
6. Michael Monarch
7. Martin Barre
8. Phil Collen
9. Rod Price
10. Paul Kossoff

a) King Crimson
b) Foghat
c) Blue Oyster Cult
d) Kansas
e) Steppenwolf
f) Jethro Tull
g) Free
h) Def Lepard
i) Doobie Brothers
j) Scorpians

I have a new Jeff Beck CD to give away to whoever gets them right first (no cheating!)

(I've met one of these guys and wrote about it here - does anyone know, or want to guess, which one?)

For Tom:

Clapton and Winwood

 A 2 CD + 2 DVD set is coming out.  Here's the buzz on it:

Three Historic Shows. Two Rock Legends. A Collaboration Forty Years in the Making.


Includes iconic performances of Blind Faith, Eric Clapton, and Steve Winwood's greatest hits. (Tracklisting for both the DVDs and CDs are below)

They's also announced tour dates:

June 10 East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center
June 12 Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center
June 13 Washington, DC Verizon Center
June 15 Columbus, OH Schottenstein Center
June 17 Chicago, IL United Center
June 18 St. Paul, MN Xcel Energy Center
June 20 Omaha, NE Qwest Center
June 21 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
June 23 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
June 24 Houston, TX Toyota Center
June 26 Glendale, AZ Jobing.com Arena
June 27 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Arena
June 29 Oakland, CA Oracle Arena
June 30 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl

Are You Ready for Chickenfoot?

I find it extremely interesting that the new band "Chickenfoot" is the second most popular search term used to find this blog (#1 - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band", don't ask me why!). There has been a debate going on in my comments for months. Apparently people have strong opinions of this "superstar" group.

So I'm very interested to hear their sound and find out what the buzz our there is about their music. This clip below is om their official website, not sure what it says about these guys but anyone who would name their band "Chickenfoot" is not worried about what people think. That gives me hope that the music may actually be....good???

Check out THIS to see what I mean

Oh, and to answer their question in the above clip:

Chickenfoot is:

Sammy Hagar
Michael Anthony
Joe Satriani
Chad Smith (red hot chili peppers)

I AM WORKING ON MY TEMPLATE

SO IT MAY LOOK WEIRD FOR A FEW HOURS....BUT CHECK BACK LATER. In the meantime if you want to read an in depth, interesting and exceptionally well-written review on the New U2, Check out Starr's Blog!

I just won tickets to see the Pretenders next week!

Details later! I am jazzed! See what I just wrote not long ago HERE

A HUGE Thank You - and a Contest

How do you like the new header to this blog? I am thrilled with it. I'd like to introduce you to the designer of this incredible image, his name is Gary Means and he's my one of my closest blog friends.
Gary has several blogs, this one is his music blog, check it out: Iklektika
I still have a few minor changes to make to the template.

THANK YOU, GARY, YOU ROCK!

Also - the first person who can correctly name all the people in the header wins a nifty prize. For those of you who've been around for awhile you may remember this t-shirt. It generated a lot of comments as we all (me included) tried to figure out who was who. The t-shirt designer finally filled me in so the answers are here if you'd like to try it. The prize is the actual shirt, I have (size XL) and will send it to whoever wins :)

No Line on the Horizon is finally HERE!

SO - how many of you ran out and got the CD today?????

I bought my copy at 8:25 am and the cashier at Target was amazed that so many people had bought that CD on the same day (she didn't get it) so I tried to explain to her that it was

U2

and that we had been waiting FOUR YEARS for it!!!!

Starr is going to have a review, I can't wait to read it.

Back in Black (Template)

I really liked the pink guitar look - for about a week.  Now its gotten on my nerves.  I would like to ask you to help me decide what to keep and what to toss off my sidebar.  I am usually a minimalist so less is better - yet I like all the stuff I added.  The votes are anonymous so please be honest!

I will be updating my template soon.

THANKS!

This Weeks Birthdays, and a bit about Rory Gallagher

March 1

Roger Daltry (1944)

March 2

Lou Reed (1943)

Rory Gallagher (1948 - 1995)

Jon Bon Jovi (1962)

Chris Martin (1977)

March 6

David Gilmore (1944)

March 7

Peter Wolf (1948)

Rory has a special place in my heart for two reasons: 


1) he was born in Donegal, Ireland which is where many of my relatives are from, and quite a few are still there
2) he's highly underrated for his exceptional talent and kick ass guitar playing

"Gallagher's final resting place is in St Oliver's Cemetery, on Model Farm Road just outside Ballincollig near Cork City, Ireland. His headstone is a replica of an award he received in 1972 for International Guitarist of The Year." (photo and text from Wikipedia)