19 years ago we lost him:

(thank you, Drew, for reminding me)

My Generation

This is pretty much the entire song:.

People try to put us d-down (Talkin' 'bout my generation) Just because we get around (Talkin' 'bout my generation) Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin' 'bout my generation) I hope I die before I get old (Talkin' 'bout my generation) This is my generation This is my generation, baby Why don't you all f-fade away (Talkin' 'bout my generation) And don't try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin' 'bout my generation) I'm not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin' 'bout my generation) I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin' 'bout my generation)

Just thinking about generations over the years and how different things are now than in the 60's, 70's, 80's.

I think a lot of (not all!) our youth today is really messed up. And who is to blame? Possibly my generation.

Who's Got the Biggest Collection?

How big is your music collection?

Personally, mind is pretty small these days. I have about 100 CDs, 100 vinyls albums, and 4,500 songs on my iPod.

Happy Birthday, Robert Plant!

Robert is one of my all time favorite vocalists...and I will never, ever tire of watching "The Song Remains the Same" or any other video of Zeppelin. Hope he has a great birthday (even though I'm still disappointed in him for not wanting to do a reunion....)

The Beatles - News!

Beatle fans! I remember a few years ago when Mothership came out (re-mastered Zeppelin), I wasn't sure what I'd think of the re-mastered music, but I loved it and can't wait to hear what this sounds like. They've put a lot of work into it (four years worth!):

Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are delighted to announce the release of the entire original Beatles catalogue, which has been digitally re-mastered for the first time, for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09), the same date as the release of the widely anticipated “The Beatles: Rock Band” video game. The process took a team of engineers at Abbey Road Studios four years of utilizing state of the art recording technology, alongside vintage studio equipment, to create these amazing re-masters.

Each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

Here is the official site for more info: www.thebeatles.com

The "project" I've Been Working On

I've been working really hard to update my blog, Gone But Not Forgotten. Here's  what is new and improved:

The banner, which is awesome, was done by Gary Means:



also:

• I've added about 15 new names (with another 20 still on the list
• I've written a personal thought for every person
• Each name is now hyper-linked to Wikipedia
• There is a link under most people with a song that leads to lyrics, video, photos, bio and other info
• There are youtube videos included with some of the most memorable performances

But the most IMPORTANT part of the site is what YOU add. Your comments, memories, opinions, input are what make it personal and meaningful. I hope you'll stop by and add a thought or two under some of your favorite musicians.

Please, please let me know if I have left someone out. And please link to me on your blog if you don't mind.

I've been in contact with several family members and friends of the some of the musicians and will let you know as they add their comments.

Let's keep the memories of these special people alive....

One final word:

Many of you know that my 18 yr. old son is a heroin addict. One of my missions in life is to shed light on how widespread and life threatening this problem is. Its very prevalent among young males and - musicians. If you glance at the sidebar of GBNF you will see how many lives we've lost....and that's of famous musicians. Its happening daily everywhere to kids like mine, like yours. Something has to be done, but I have no idea what other than getting our government to give more of a shit about illegal drugs entering our country.

Question of the Day:

Why do 45 records have big holes instead of little ones like other records?

for the answer you have to visit Bloggerythms.

Also, I know a few people who will absolutely cringe at the thought of this...but I stumbled upon this site where they make jewelry out of "used vinyl" (is there any other kind?). Its a creative idea but extremely disturbing to think of all those records being destroyed.

Les Paul Died Today

Just heard this news, and it made me feel sad. But really - how sad can it be, we all have to die sooner or later and few people make such a great contribution to the world as Les Paul gave to MUSIC. He was 94!!!

Where would rock and roll be today without his innovative mind and the amazing technology and guitars he created!!!!

Here's a quote that seems to sum up a lot of how he thought:

He admired the places guitarists and engineers took his inventions, but he said there was nothing to replace good, old-fashioned elbow grease and soul.

"I learned a long time ago that one note can go a long way if it's the right one," he said in 2002, "and it will probably whip the guy with 20 notes."

I'm not sure what my thoughts on the afterlife are...BUT, if there is a heaven I can only imagine the party going on right now as all of the great rock guitarists that are "gone but not forgotten" surround Les and rock out!

p.s. the project I referred to the other day is my blog referenced above. I actually thought I would have if "finished" until I realized I never will. It does have a new look, please check it out.

Elton and Alice...

Have you heard about the collaboration between AIC and EJ???

Read Seano's post today for details.

(oh, I stumbled upon this today and had to share because of the Axl post I did the other day: Breeding Axl Rose)

New Music Tuesday

I just made that up, the new music Tuesday thing, but I may try to keep it a new feature here because I know most us like to sample new musical treats along with our standard classics!

Here is what I will be checking out this week:






"Although few noticed when Warner Bros. issued Geoff and Maria Muldaur's daughter Jenni's debut album in 1992, her long-overdue follow-up is sure to turn heads with its audacious program of undeservingly [sic] obscure R&B and pop tunes, her throaty, nicely nuanced vocal deliver, and the world-class cast of players who surround her. Read more here.




I love Train! They are fun and sometimes that's what I want in a song. They put on a great show and have a good time with the audience. Planning to see them at a local Indian Casino next month.



Note from Train: "It's been in the works for a while, but now our new single 'Hey Soul Sister' is finally here and is premiering exclusively on Billboard.com

. So head over to Billboard

, check it out, and let us know what you think! And tonight around midnight you'll be able to purchase 'Hey Soul Sister' at iTunes.com/train."


ZAPPA FANS!!!!!

This sounds insanely interesting, can't wait to here it. I can't help but think how proud Frank would be of Dweezil for his originality. Check this out:

In a joint announcement with AMD (NYSE: AMD), Dangerous Music released details of Dweezil Zappa’s road recording rig using 48-channels of Dangerous 2-Bus LT analog summing and Dangerous Monitor ST speaker controller, allowing immediate mixing of the ‘Zappa Plays Zappa’ live shows — even in a hotel room. The “Room Service Rig” consists of a PC Audio Labs computer powered by dual AMD Opteron™ quad-core processors, running Steinberg’s NUENDO DAW software along with three 2-Bus LT summing amps and Monitor ST , providing large-format analog console mixing quality on the road.

Boswell also explained why the ‘The Room Service Rig’ was aptly named. “Dweezil was not interested in simply hacking together typical ‘board mixes’ of Frank Zappa classics. He chose Dangerous Music and AMD in order to deliver studio quality mixes and mastering for the fan base. He feels the technology should not only fulfill the Zappa quality requirement but it should also adapt to spontaneity of life on the road.” Visit Charlie Boswell’s blog at: http://globalnerding.blogspot.com.



Last, but in no way least: BOBBY LONG. Another brilliant young artist from the UK. Although much more mellow than Davy Knowles, Bobby has an "old soul" feel to him too. Give him a listen, and if you like what you hear leave a comment and let me know if you would like a copy of his CD I have to GIVE AWAY (first come first serve).

Learn more about him and check out his stuff here.

"It Might Get Loud" this weekend!

Just a reminder that the new film will be released in theaters in the hip exciting cities of New York and Los Angeles on Friday.

What film?

This one.

Ten Mishaps on Stage

Following Steven Tyler's recent tumble, The Classic Rock Blog has listed ten mishaps that have happened on stage and has video clips for each one. Go look, I'll wait here.

Some of those were funny (Brett Michael's, Axl Rose...) but some very disturbing (Noel Gallagher, Kurt Cobain). And I hate to say it but the Beyonce one was comical ... poor girl.

The one with James Hetfield and the last one disturbed me because they both reminded me of the Great White fire that killed members of the band and the audience (including a friend of mine). And of course the worst on stage moment of all time (IMO) is then Darrel Abbot was shot and killed while performing, several others were killed trying to protect him.

I didn't watch all of them.

Can you think of any onstage moments that someone was hurt or made an embarrassing fall? Its never funny to me when someone gets hurt...but like Beyonce and Axl, they just kept going after they fell, you gotta wonder how they felt the next day. OUCH.

Here's one: Krist Novoselic threw his bass in the air after the end of "Lithium" during the 1992 taping of the MTV Video Music Awards. It came back down on his head and he stumbled off stage dazed and confused.

P.S. Speaking of Axl, I hear he denies having plastic surgery....people always make fun of women who have it and come out looking like plastic so I'd just like to point out that it does the same thing to dudes (lets all agree to age gracefully and not mess ourselves up like this!)

What Are Your Kids Listening To?

Not all of us that read here are parents, and those of us who are have kids ranging from infants on up to 30! I am curious what kind of music your children listen to. I know there is a future rock star out there, Hudson Barry, remember the name. He's only 3 but he's already a Zeppelin fan.  I also know of a very young lady who's father is already teaching her about great music, I don't think she can even roll over or sit up yet.

My son's taste in music is deplorable. I can't even tell you the names of most of the "music" he listens to, its loud and has the "F" word littered throughout. I took him to his first Springsteen concert at age 9 but it didn't work (although he was thrilled that Bruce played "Murder Incorporated" because any song about violence is good with him).

There is hope because mixed in with the Hip Hop "music" he likes are a few good bands like Rage Against the Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, Green Day and The Killers.

So - what does your child(ren) listen to?

Win Some Great Woodstock Music, Etc:

Woodstock.com, the official website for the Woodstock community, is now hosting an Ultimate Woodstock 40^th Anniversary Sweepstakes.  The prize pack contains The Woodstock Experience (Limited Edition Complete CD Box Set), Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music (40th Anniversary Ultimate DVD Collector's edition), an Ang Lee autographed Taking Woodstock Poster, an autographed copy of The Road To Woodstock, and Woodstock - 40 Years On: Back to Yasgur's Farm box set from Rhino. 

All you have to do to enter is sign up at Woodstock.com - http://www.woodstock.com/woodstock-40th-sweepstakes.cfm

 

.

The Ultimate Woodstock 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes:
http://www.woodstock.com/woodstock-40th-sweepstakes.cfm

 

Steven Tyler Takes a Dive

"Fans rocking to Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler could have shouted a simple warning: Hey, don't walk this way!
Instead the 61-year-old music legend fell from a concert stage at South Dakota's famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Tyler was flown to a hospital with minor injuries early Thursday and treated for minor head, neck and shoulders injuries.
"You could kind of see it coming because he was dancing all over the stage," said Lance Yellow Robe, who was eight feet from the stage when Tyler toppled shortly after midnight."

Read more here.

These old rockers need to be careful!  I hope he makes a full recovery and is able to get back on stage  again soon.  Ouch.

In the Beginning....

There was Piper at the Gates of Dawn
was that really 42 years ago?

thank you, Syd Barrett

Hard Work?

I have been working on a project recently that is taking much longer than I imagined. I will tell you more later because its really not "my project", its for all of us, and I need your help.

It got me thinking. I am unemployed for the first time EVER and admit, I love having free time to write, listen to music and then combine my passions and write about music. Its a bit tough not having an income and watching the savings dwindle away, but jobs are scarce.

Very few people have their dream job, but I did have the fun of meeting Joe Heuer this summer, you may know him better as The Rock and Roll Guru. He's managed to put his love of writing and music to work quite well.

As I cruise around the blogosphere reading your blogs I see so much talent, so many brilliant music critics and writers. Its inspiring. I hope when I am ready some of you will write something for my "project".

I am not trying to be mysterious, its just that I want it to be ready before I unveil it, even though its been a work in progress for a long, long time.

Thanks for reading my blog. I am by no means a great writer like some of you guys because, honestly, I hate reviewing music unless I LOVE it. I have a hard time saying "this stinks" but many of you have mastered the art of critiquing!~

Bonnaroo on Fuse - BRUCE

...here i am flipping chanels on a Sat. night and what do I see but Mr. Springsteen playing guitar SHIRTLESS (this is a first, he usually doesn't do that). Unfortunately that shot did not last long. I'd just like to point out that he's turning 60 next month, so if any of you are feeling old, don't. We are as young as we feel and act. So keep rockin (and eating right, exercising and not smoking or drinking excessively).

Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, Queensryche, Chickenfoot

I'll tell ya what's a real bummer - when one of your favorite bands is opening for a popular band and tickets sell out before you get a chance to buy one. Of course this is great for Davy, but it sucks for me.

They are playing near me the day before and after my birthday and both shows are sold out except for bad seats in the bleachers in the back. Ugh.

On the other hand, I can go see Robert Cray that same weekend very close to where I live. I just need some good LIVE guitar to sustain me. General admission plus you have to buy dinner if you want good seats...sounds perfect. My friends around here keep asking what I want to do to celebrate, but going to see music like this with people that don't appreciate or enjoy it is awful, I rather go alone!