January 23, 2011

New Pearl Jam Documentary

A documentary entitled Pearl Jam Twenty, directed by Cameron Crowe, will be coming out later this year. The documentary will be celebrating Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary and will combine new interviews and performances with archival footage. The film will also have a soundtrack. 



Saw this on my radio station: KSWD 100.3 The Sound - All About The Music - New Pearl Jam Documentary

January 20, 2011

Steve Prestwich (1954-2011)

I read the sad news today that Cold Chisel and former Little River Band drummer, Steve Prestwich died this past Sunday, January 16, 2011.  He was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 2 weeks ago.  Sadly he never awoke after being put under for brain surgery to remove the tumor.  Prestwich was only 56 years old.

Being a fan of Australian music I first came to be familiar with Prestwich from his work with Little River Band (on their Playing to Win and No Reins albums).  As I acquainted myself further with Australian music I learned of his contributions to the definitive Australian pub rock band, Cold Chisel. 

In addition to being their drummer, Prestwich sometimes also played guitar, sang, and wrote music for Cold Chisel including two of their biggest hits-- When the War Is Over and Forever Now (both from their Circus Animals album).  In the early days of Cold Chisel the British Prestwich and Scottish vocalist Jimmy Barnes often came to blows sometimes resulting in Barnes departure from the band (although Barnes always returned).
In honor of Prestwich, below is a live clip of When The War Is Over from Cold Chisel's 2003 Ringside tour.

January 14, 2011

Offensive Rock and Roll Song Lyrics

Did you hear that Canada is banning a Dire Straits song from the radio because it contains the word "faggot"?

"Money for Nothing" came out 26 years ago and was a number one hit.  The word faggot was not used in a deragatory manner, it was used (imo) sarcastically to describe  Boy George or maybe a metal hair band (it was 1985).  You have to understand the song and the context it was used in.  Its a song about a working class guy  watching music videos and thinking, "these dudes have it made, I should have been a rock star..."
"See the little faggot with the earring and the makeup, Yeah buddy that’s his own hair. That little faggot got his own jet airplane. That little faggot he’s a millionaire."
I think its ridiculous to ban this song from the air.  If these lyrics are offensive what about all the other lyrics out there that are no longer politically correct in today's overly sensitive world?

Let's lists a list of all the "offensive" song lyrics we can think of.  (Please note - rock and roll type songs only, rap/hip hop doesn't count...which by the way they play on Canadian radio with the N word because that is not offensive.....?)

(I've heard Mark Knopfler was in an appliance store when he thought of this song, that's why the references to all the appliances, but I don't know if that's true).

January 10, 2011

Brain reacts to music like a drug - chicagotribune.com

You know that feeling you get when you listen to a favorite part of a favorite song? Some scientists have a refreshingly unscientific word for it: They call it the "chills." In the lab they can measure the chills, which correspond with a specific pattern of brain arousal and often are accompanied by increases in heart and breathing rates and other physical responses.

Now neurologists report that this human response to music -- which has existed for thousands of years, across cultures around the world -- involves dopamine, the same chemical in the brain that is associated with the intense pleasure people get from more tangible rewards such as food or addictive drugs. The research will be published Sunday in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

Kind of changes what it means to be addicted to your iPod.

Read the rest here:  Brain reacts to music like a drug - chicagotribune.com

(Thanks, Jim!)

January 6, 2011

Top 20 - 2010

Check out last years 2010 bestselling albums and tell me if you have purchased any of them.

http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200#/charts/billboard-200
Dave at http://classicrock.about.com/ 
has posted that album sales are down 15.3% for the year.

How are your album purchasing habits? I can't say that I would have purchased any of them with the exception of number 13. Must be getting old and I am still stuck in the 60's and the 70's.

January 4, 2011

First Music Loss of the New Year - Gerry Rafferty



Please visit "Gone But Not Forgotten" for my thoughts on this loss.  His voice was always so soothing to me for some reason.  He may be gone, but his music lives on and is still played on the airwaves regularly.

This may seem like a morbid question, but many of our Rockers are getting up their in age.  I sometimes wonder who will go next.  I hope all my favorites live well into their 80's.  Isn't Mick already in his 80's?
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