Tom Petty

Happy Birthday Tom!!!!



My favorite aging hippy, 60 years young today.

Street Player: My Chicago Story by Danny Seraphine

Next to the Beach Boys, Chicago is the top selling American rock group with well over 100 million albums sold worldwide.  While a couple of books have been written about them over the years, many of those books had to pass the muster of the band and thus the portrayal of the band's history was rose-colored at best and revisionist at worst.  Depending on what history you've read of this band and when the roles of different band members were either substantial or inconsequential.  Finally having a book written by a founding former member, a disgruntled one at that, is long overdue and something many fans have been waiting for!

I had the opportunity to interview Mr. Seraphine via e-mail about 13 years ago.  At the time he was living a self-imposed exile in Colorado after his acrimonious split from the band in 1990.  He struck me as still smarting from the wounds of his departure from the band, understandably so, and it's only been within the past four years or so that he's returned to the music scene with his new band, California Transit Authority.

Chicago was featured in a VH1 Behind the Music special in 2000 that focused primarily on the untimely accidental death of guitarist Terry Kath and the departure of Peter Cetera.  Danny was included in that special and his comments regarding his former bandmates more than hinted at his continued hostility.

That being said, I'm really looking forward to this book as it touches on a lot of the behind the scenes stories about Terry's death, rubbing elbows with rock greats like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, rumors of the band's ties to the mob, and even the story behind Seraphine's own acrimonious departure from the band.

If you're looking for a good rock and roll autobiography to add to your Christmas Wish List this may be it!

For more info click here

MISSING CAT

RISE OF THE ALL-SEEING CAT

Scotland's Missing Cat has a new CD on offer and it takes heavy rock and blues to great heights. Frontman Paul Montague blows a mind-bending harp, aided and abetted by solid playing. Miles ahead of the plastic confections that contemporary radio is flogging, these guys live what they are putting across.

This is the blues, refracted through an alt-rock prism. Gritty, catchy and waiting to be discovered.

Check out "Maybe Maybe" right here

Find out more about Missing Cat

Excellent Interview with Ian Anderson

Dw. Dunphy has an great interview with Ian Anderson.  You can find it here.

I think Ian is one of the most fascinating men in rock and roll. If you've never seen or read an interview with him I recommend it.  He's an interesting and unique person.  

aha moment: voting

Vote for JOE! 

Joe is a good friend of mine and I can tell you - HE LIVES HIS PHILOSOPHY! There have been so many times when he's helped me with big life issues and helped me have a positive attitude.

It only takes 30 seconds to watch his video and vote:

aha moment: voting

"Teenage Girl Obsessed with Rock Music"

That is the description on this wonderful blog that you MUST check out!  Very few things make me as happy as meeting a young person that appreciates ROCK AND ROLL!

This young lady from the UK has unique perspective and great taste in music.

Check her out at:  Music and More!

Imagine - That John Was Here With Us to Celebrate His 70th

Happy Birthday, John.
I made this video years ago...today I dedicate it to John's memory on his would be 70th birthday:

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

THE PROMISE: THE MAKING OF DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN TO DEBUT OCT. 7 ON HBO

THE PROMISE: THE MAKING OF DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, an in-the-studio look at the recording of Bruce Springsteen's 1978 album, will debut THURSDAY, OCT. 7 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

THE PROMISE: THE MAKING OF DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN goes into the studio with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band for the recording of their fourth album. Grammy- and Emmy-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny has collaborated with Springsteen on this documentary, gaining access to never before seen footage shot from 1976 to 1978, capturing home rehearsals and recording sessions that reveal Springsteens creative process at work.

WHAT I WANT SANTA TO BRING ME:

The Promise CD, containing 21 new songs from the "Darkness at the Edge of Town" recording sessions is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com and at the Sony Music Store.






The Promise 2 CD and 4 LP packages can be pre-ordered at Amazon. Both 2 CD and 4 LP Vinyl editions with exclusive t-shirt and poster are also available for pre-sale only at The Promise Online Store.

AND THE WINNER of the RUSH DVD IS:

Michael of the blog Chez Bez!!!!

Congrats, friend!  I hope you enjoy it.  Email me!

Tomorrow I will be reviewing another DVD, but its too good to give away, must keep for self!  

DVD Giveaway: RUSH 2112 & Moving Pictures

I have a treat for Rush fans! I just received a copy of the new DVD release from Rush and would like to pass it on to one of you. If you're interested leave me a comment and I will draw a name next week on Wednesday.

Here is a description:

The latest addition to the acclaimed & award winning Classic Albums series tells the story behind the making of two legendary

albums from Rush. 2112 was the album that saw Rush break through to major chart success, going to No.1 in their native Canada

and Top 75 in the USA where it would eventually be certified triple platinum. Moving Pictures opened them to a mass audience for

the first time and remains the biggest selling album of their career. It also went to No.1 in Canada and went quadruple platinum

there while hitting No.3 in both the UK and USA. Rush members Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart talk us through the

making of the albums, together with original producer Terry Brown via interviews, demonstrations, archive videos and use

of the original multi-track tapes.

BONUS FEATURES

Over 50 minutes of additional interviews, archive footage and new demonstrations not included in the broadcast version.

Here is a review I found on Amazon written by Greg. He gave me permission to re-write it here:

I find this DVD a worthwhile addition to my Rush collection. After recently buying remastered versions of 2112 and Moving Pictures (Eco) (Rpkg), and seeing (and buying the DVD of) the excellent documentary, Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage [Blu-ray], I questioned the wisdom of yet one more bit of Rushverse memorabilia. Turns out I still have more to learn, and I was especially interested in learning more about the connection of the story in 2112 with the Ayn Rand work, Anthem, Expanded 50th Anniversary Edition. I knew that 2112 was influenced by Rand, but was under the wrong impression about what that influence had been. That's just an example of the types of revelations on tap in this documentary.

And the guys are as low-key and approachable as ever. I said it about "Lighted Stage" and I'll say it about this Classic Albums DVD...the personalities of the Rush bandmates, and their friendship with each other, and their gonzo commitment to their musical vision, make them extremely attractive as artistic icons, even if some of their music is, let's face it, as annoying as hell. (But that doesn't apply to anything on the two albums showcased in this documentary--this is cream-of-the-crop Rush.)

ALSO: Stay tuned for a review from me on another new DVD release that is TOO GOOD to give away, I have to keep it for my collection :) (hint: another band that starts with the letter "R")