Birthday Wishes to The Boss, Happy Birthday Bruce!

Ten years and two days before I was born, Mrs. Springsteen gave birth to her only son, Bruce.  I love (almost) sharing a birthday with him each year.  I am also glad he's ten years older, I feel like I've grown up in his musical footsteps, from the time I was in High School to now.  It just keeps getting better.

Happy Birthday, Bruce, I love ya!

(Bruce at age 18!)

Magical Mystery Blog

There's a new classic rock blog out there!  He has his collection of music listed and its impressive.  Check it out:

Magical Mystery Blog

Must Have Book for Zeppelin Fans

Yesterday I received so many wonderful things in the mail! One of them was this book:

Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin: The Illustrated History of the Heaviest Band of All Time

IT IS INCREDIBLE! You have to hold it in your hands and look at it yourself to truly appreciate it. This is their entire history illustrated with photos that are some of the best I've seen.

The book gives you a look into every aspect of the band focusing on their tours. I was able to look at the venue I (almost) saw them at and see the t-shirts and ticket stubs and posters form that tour, it took me right back. I love how this book is set up and highly recommend it. Here is part of the description from the publisher:

Now, to celebrate their fortieth anniversary and December 2007 reunion, here’s the first-ever complete illustrated history of Led Zeppelin.

This all-star tribute to one of the biggest rock ’n’ roll bands of all time features many of today’s top American and English rock journalists from Rolling Stone, Creem, Billboard and more, as well as reflections on the band’s inspiration from some of rock’s top performers, including Aerosmith, Heart, ZZ Top, the Minutemen, the Hold Steady, and others. An appendix features the complete discography.

Glorious concert and behind-the-scenes photography from some of the top names in rock photography covers the band from their first 1968 show as Led Zeppelin through the 2007 reunion. Also included are more than 200 rare concert posters, backstage passes, tickets, LPs and singles, T-shirts, buttons, and more from the United States, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Japan, all comprising a book as epic as the band it honors.

"Do you think guitarists are all that special?"

Received an excellent question in the comment section and it was just too good not to share, plus I know many of you who read here aren't shy about sharing your opinions so this should give Daniel several views.

Daniel is an artist and he ask this in sincerity, I'll share my thoughts in the comments.

Hey, I have a question, and a tribute show seems related. Do you think guitarists are all that special? I don't mean this demeaningly and I don't want to bring on the wrath of the rock gods...

I'm wondering because Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and even a girl in Korea I think can sound a lot like Hendrix in their playing. So is it how they perform live? Is it how they relate to other players in the band? Is it singing too, so is Kenny less impressive?

I guess it comes down to intent and authenticity.

This is only a pondering, not a conclusion. I have HUGE respect for guitarists, but like if someone painted like I do and you had trouble telling the difference?

The Next Best Thing to Jimi Hendrix Live...

I MUST go to this.

Experience Hendrix:

Mitch Mitchell, Billy Cox, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robby Krieger, Eric Johnson, David Hidalgo & Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos with special performances by Hubert Sumlin, Chris Layton, Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Gales, Mato Nanji

A five week long, cross-country tour featuring some of the best known and most respected figures in rock and blues has been set to celebrate the legacy and music of Jimi Hendrix. The Experience Hendrix Tour presented by Experience Hendrix, L.L.C., the Hendrix family-owned company founded by James A. “Al” Hendrix, Jimi’s father, entrusted with preserving and protecting the legacy of Jimi Hendrix together with Gibson Guitar, will make its L.A. stop at the Greek Theatre on Sunday, November 2.

Songs NOT to Sing at the Office:

I listen to music all day at work with my headset on, either my iPod or Last FM. Occasionally I will sing outloud and my co-workers get serenaded (not intentionally, I just get lost in the music and forget).

Here is one song you do NOT want to sing outloud at work:

Star Star by The Rollings Stones

Ooops....

I'm sure there are many others. Luckily I caught myself right as it got to the chorus.

We Lost Another Music Great Today....

I will link directly to my friend Jeff because of his love for Pink Floyd:

Imagine Echoes, post on Richard Wright

Joe Strummer - The Future is Unwritten DVD, Review

Image via Wikipedia I just finished watching this intriguing documentary of Joe Strummer.  I thought I "knew" Joe from articles I had read and following his story and music; but there's nothing like hearing interviews with old friends and family, and in this case Joe himself as well.  Its apparent that his childhood had a huge affect on his rebellious attitude and possibly on on his sense for protecting those around him.
The history of band is interesting too.  Mick Jones (Clash guitarist) is in a lot of the interviews and shares lots of stories.  The band had a lot of ups and downs that's for sure, but most bands do.  Joe didn't like all the fame, he fought it for a long time but once he gave in - things changed.  Mick and Joe wouldn't speak to each other, they didn't trust each other.

At one point his manager told him he should go away for awhile to cause some media stir because tickets weren't selling well.  Joe decided he really would go away and not let anyone find him so it caused a real concern and his manager eventually had to hire a private detectivct. to find him.

There's lots more I could say but YOU MUST SEE THIS if you are a fan of The Clash.  I highly recommend it.

The Knack - My Sharona

I was hesitant to do a post on this song, but then I remembered it was good enough for Nirvana so I should have no problem admitting I think its a fun song!  The Knack was one of those one hit wonder bands that came out with a song that was so catchy people still recognize it today.  It was this week back in 1979 that the song debuted. 

Along with many other teens (that had fake IDs) I would dance to this song every time I went out - any cover band in their right mind added this one to their repetoire as soon as it hit the radios.  I have very fond memories attached to My Sharona. 

If you'd like to check out Nirvana's cover, here it is.

Free Songs

Hmm, the title of this post could be misleading, I don't have any songs for free. I got the idea of "free" songs from Jim Ladd of KLOS (LA classic rock radio).

Each Friday night Jim has a show called Theme of Consciousness where he suggests a word then the listeners come up with songs that have that word in the title and those song make up his set list for the evening. Jim is known for playing some very deep cuts that are rarely played on mainstream radio.

So, for fun, lets see what we can come up with to create our own "Free" playlist. I will start off with a couple obvious ones, it can be the word free or any word that contains free:

Free Falling, Tom Petty
Free Bird, Lynrd Skynrd
Freedom, Rage Against the Machine
Philadelphia Freedom, Elton John
Free Man in Paris, Joni Mitchell
Freewill, Rush