Today in Rock n Roll History

1955: Tonight on TV, Ed Sullivan plays host to Bill Haley & the Comets, bringing rock ‘n’ roll to the masses with their “Rock Around the Clock.”

1957: The Quarry Men Skiffle Group, led by a young John Lennon, perform at Liverpool’s Cavern Club. Lennon had met Paul McCartney a month earlier, but the Walrus did not join the band onstage because he was away at scout camp.

1965: In England, the Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man” is knocked out of the No. 1 spot by the Beatles’ “Help!”

1970: The Goose Lake International Music Festival began in Jackson, MI. Approximately 200,000 were in attendance & the three day festival included Rod Stewart & The Faces, Jethro Tull, Chicago, Bob Seger, Ten Years After, The Stooges, Mountain, The James Gang, the MC5, & The Flying Burrito Brothers. Alice Cooper & Joe Cocker were originally on the bill, but didn’t appear.

1970: Fleetwood Mac welcome new member Christine McVie, the wife of bass player John McVie and a former vocalist with Chicken Shack.

1974: J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf married Faye Dunaway in Beverly Hills, CA. The couple would divorce in 1979.

1976: Aerosmith peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart with Last Child, their third top 40 hit.

1994: Celebrity accountant Martin Stainton vanishes. Some think he’s taken a lot of Rod Stewart’s, Tina Turner’s, and Simple Minds’ money with him.

1999: It’s Woodstock ’99 all over again when violence erupts outside a Dave Matthews Band concert in Hartford, Conn. Unruly behavior in the parking lot of the Meadows Music Theater requires intervention by riot police and leads to a total of 55 arrests.

2008: The Police performed what they said would be their final concert ever at Madison Square Garden, which was a benefit concert for public television.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
1952: Andy Fraser bass player for Free
1958: Bruce Dickinson singer of Iron Maiden

Slash & Boz Scaggs - Red House

This was taken on Sept 2 1995 at the concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. I think Slash is a bit of an asshole but this was a good little jam paying tribute to my hero Jimi, and Boz Scaggs is a brilliant musician/songwriter. They also have Steve Cropper on guitar who has played with a who's who in rock n roll from Booker T & The Mg's, Blues Brothers and many,many more..."lay back and groove".

Derek Trucks Band - Sahib Teri Bandi

Trucks first attracted the attention of the music industry as a nine-year old child prodigy on the guitar, and by age 12 he'd worked with some of the biggest names in the music scene. He was sitting in with Buddy Guy and an increasing list of other famous musicians, touring with The Allman Brothers Band for a decade before finally becoming an official band member in 1999..."lay back and groove".

The Allman Brothers Band - In Memory of Elizabeth Reed

Live at the Fillmore East 09/23/1970 with Duane "Skydog" Allman, man this guy had some tasty guitar...And like a lot of the greats taken away at a very early age..."lay back and groove".

Melissa Etheridge & Joss Stone - Janis Joplin Tribute

Very hard to sing like Janis, but good job ladies...Love the scream by Melissa but I really think she needs a haircut..."lay back and groove".

Heart - Mona Lisas & Mad Hatters

Nancy & Ann Wilson singing one of my favorite Elton John songs...Nancy sings the majority of this but I think that Ann is by far the best vocalist of the two..."lay back and groove".

Patti Smith & Sarah McLachlan - Because The Night

Always loved this song off her great "Easter" album and Sarah McLachlan is also one of my fave female vocalists, but only plays piano here..."lay back and groove".

Dana Fuchs Band - I'd Rather Go Blind

WOW!!! Somewhere Janis has a huge smile on her face, this girl is absolutely AMAZING, singing the old Etta James classic!...What a set of pipes on her (and her voice is pretty good to...lol)...Sorry that I never heard of her before and missed her performance at Bluesfest this summer..."lay back and groove".

AC/DC - Bad Boy Boogie

My all-time favorite rock band from the seventies with Bon Scott on vocals who I unfortunately never got to see but did see them a few times after Bon had passed away. Angus goes crazy on this song as per usual back in the days. So do the Bad Boy Boogie and..."lay back and groove".

Willie Nelson - Funny How Time Slips Away/Night Life

A totally different Willie from the previous video I posted of him, LOL!!!...Seen here with Leon Russell in 1974. I was able to see Willie play 10 years or so after this and never realized what a great guitar player he was and this song shows a little proof of his talent and it's no wonder he wore a big hole in that old guitar of his. Also had the pleasure of seeing Leon Russell in the 80's at Barrymore's where I grew up fast as a teenager and I have somewhere an autographed picture of Leon..."lay back and groove".

Willie Nelson - Medley

WOW!!...If I did not hear and know the voice I never in a million years would have said that this was Willie Nelson who I grew up listening to as he was always one of my Dad's favorites along with Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash..."lay back and groove".

Colosseum II - Inquisition

Gary Moore back in 1977 as a young 25 year old guitar player showing his versatility and tearing it up here with a little fusion style..."lay back and groove".

Babe Ruth - Black Dog

Great song off of the first Babe Ruth album from 1973 entitled "First Base" which of course also featured their biggest hit "The Mexican"...I am so looking forward to seeing them perform on their first Canadian tour date at the Ottawa Bluesfest on July 9th...Their latest album "Que Pasa" has some great new tracks on it and should be even better to hear live..."lay back and groove".

David Gilmour - I Put a Spell on You

Incredible version of the song written by Screamin' Jay Hawkins way back in 1956. His original recording was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. It was also ranked #313 on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. You can see DG really getting into it when he starts his solo in the song. I had to listen to this about 5 or 6 times in a row it was so good and I had to find out who the female singer is and she is Mica Paris an English soul singer, radio and television presenter, and occasional actress. The piano player is of course Jools Holland who is best known as one of the founding members of the band "Squeeze" but he has also played with a list of who's who in rock including some other stuff with DG..."lay back and groove".

David Gilmour at 50th Anniversary of the Fender Strat

Happy 64th David Gilmour
Yes I know I am a few hours late but haven't posted anything for about a week, his birthday is March 6th. Has to be the best guitarist alive with the most feel to his playing. I know I keep saying it over and over but I just can't help it, his solos take me on a journey. Anyways DG thank you for all of the great music that you have given to us so far and I hope you never stop..."lay back and groove".

Today in Rock n Roll History

1966: The Cavern Club in Liverpool, U.K. made famous by The Beatles’ residency there, closed due to being $15,000 in debt. Police were called after more than 100 fans barricaded themselves in the club to protest the club’s closing. Today, the area where The Cavern Club resided is now a subway station.

1970: In an interview with the New Musical Express, Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green talked about his plans to give all his money away. The following year Green confronted his accountant with a gun after he sent him an unwanted royalty check. The guitarist went to jail briefly before being transferred to an asylum and was committed to a mental hospital in 1973. He re- launched his career in the 90’s.

1977: Ray Charles attacked onstage by a man who tries to strangle him with a rope (big tough guy attacking a blind man).

1982: Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham collapsed during Thin Lizzy’s European tour while battling heroin withdrawal.

1984: Michael Jackson wins eight Grammys, all connected to his album “Thriller.” Eddie VanHalen is a Noted player on Beat It!

1985: David Byron the original singer for Uriah Heep, died of alcohol related complications in Reading, U.K. He was 38 years old.

1991: The Record Plant in Hollywood closes. Among the albums recorded at the recording studio and rock hangout were the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” and Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life.”
Note: it has since reopened.

1996: The original lineup of Kiss made their first public appearance in full makeup & costumes in 17 years at the 38th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. Kiss & Tupac Shakur presented the Grammy Award for Best New Artist to Hootie & the Blowfish.

2000: Charging that he has been shortchanged millions in publishing royalties, Stan Penrige, the songwriter who penned “Beth,” sues the members of Kiss, the band’s publishing company, and Universal Music Group.

2008: Boy George pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning a male escort by chaining him to a wall. The singer and DJ was also accused of assaulting Audun Carlsen during the alleged incident on 28 April 2007. He was released on bail until a trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in November.

2008: Drummer Buddy Miles who played with Jimi Hendrix in his last regular group, Band of Gypsys, died aged 60 at his home in Austin, Texas after struggling with a long-term illness. Born George Allen Miles in Omaha, Nebraska, Buddy’s nickname was a tribute to his idol, jazz drummer Buddy Rich. Rich also played with The Delfonics, The Ink Spots, Wilson Pickett, Electric Flag, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Muddy Waters and Barry White. In the 1980s, he achieved a certain amount of notoriety in the US as the vocalist on the celebrated claymation California Raisins commercials.


TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
1942: Brian Jones guitarist/founder of The Rolling Stones
1957: Cindy Wilson singer for The B-52’s

2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada

Ok the only way that this post is related to anything musical is the fact that it is music to all PROUD CANADIANS like myself :-). Here's the script and it could not have been written any better even if you were a writer from Hollywood:
It's the final day of the Olympics and my great country of Canada currently has 13 gold medals which ties the Olympic record for the most in one year. Last event of this year's Olympics is men's hockey with Team Canada vs Team USA for the gold medal. (I know I need not say more...lol) Canada is winning 2-1 with 25 seconds left in the game when the US ties it up (nobody in Canada has any nails left to chew on). So now the game goes to a 20 minute sudden death and if still tied after that to a shoot-out. In the overtime period Sidney Crosby takes a pass from Jarome Iginla and fires it between Ryan Miller's (US goalie) legs at the 7:40 mark sending the entire country of Canada into a frenzy as Canada wins its 14th gold medal to set a new Olympic record and also a best for our country of 26 Olympic medals overall. I hate to say it but step aside Paul Henderson, 38 years later Canada now has a new hockey hero.
"My name is Brian and I am CANADIAN"!

B-52's - Rock Lobster

Happy 53rd Cindy Wilson
Cynthia Leigh Wilson is a founding member of new wave rock band The B-52s. She began her career as a luncheonette waitress in her home state of Georgia. She possesses the most emotionally expressive voice of the three vocalists in The B-52s. Often singing in harmony with Kate Pierson, the two are very complementary with Pierson's technically excellent, soaring voice somewhat grounding Wilson's dramatic, colorful style..."lay back and groove".

Rolling Stones - It's All Over Now

Happy 68th Brian Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969)R.I.P.
Brian Jones was an English musician and founding member of The Rolling Stones. Jones was a gifted multi-instrumentalist and arguably one of the first English rhythm and blues pioneers from the early 1960's to employ the use of non-traditional instruments such as the sitar, experiment with the slide guitar, and to integrate other genres, including jazz and psychedelic rock in his musical compositions. Throughout his tenure in the Rolling Stones he maintained an inventiveness that saw the emergence of the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus and other such inventions. Jones is also remembered for cultivating his image with flamboyant attire and a lifestyle that included recreational drug use during the dawn of a new youth culture that centered around "sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll"..."lay back and groove".

Today in Rock n Roll History

1967: Pink Floyd completed recording of their debut single Arnold Layne with producer Joe Boyd at EMI Studios in London.

1970: Jefferson Airplane was fine $1,000 for obscenity during a concert in Oklahoma City for using profanity onstage.

1971: Janis Joplin posthumously reached the topped of the Billboard 200 album chart for the first of nine consecutive weeks with her album Pearl.

1974: Cher filed for divorce from Sonny Bono. Cher had married Gregg Allman from The Allman Brothers band on 27th June 1975.

1977: Not a good day for Keith Richards. While sleeping at Toronto’s Harbour Castle Hotel he’s awakened by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who search the suite. They find 22 grams of heroin, 5 grams of cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. The Rolling Stones guitarist is arrested and charged with possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to traffic. He’s released on $25,000 bail and trial is set for October. Charges were later reduced to simple possession of heroin & given a suspended sentence probation for a year & orders to continue rehab & perform a concert on behalf of the CNIB.

1991: James Brown was released from prison on an early parole in Columbia, SC after serving two years of a six year sentence for a high-speed car chase through two states.

1994: Enigma went to No.1 on the UK album chart with ‘The Cross Of Changes.’

1998: Motley Crue singer Vince Neil reached an agreement with Vivid Video & the Internet Entertainment Group to distribute a sex tape featuring Neil & two adult film models during a 1992 vacation in Hawaii.

2001: Returning home after a 46-year absence guitarist Carlos Santana unveils a plaque in Autlan De Navarro declaring him the “favorite son” of the west central Mexican town. Mayor Armando Perez also gives Santana the keys to the town where he spent his early childhood and where his father was a well-known musician. The town’s main street is named for Santana and a statue of his father, mariachi musician Jose Santana is unveiled.

2008: Eric Clapton is been invited to play a landmark concert in communist North Korea, according to an official at the country’s embassy in London. The confirmation follows a report in today’s Financial Times which claimed that North Korea had invited Clapton to perform in the capital Pyongyang in 2009.

2008: Roger Waters will perform his last two performances of Pink Floyd’s ‘Dark Side Of The moon’ in the UK later this Spring. As with similar performances which have taken place across the world, Waters will play the album in its entirety as well as playing a mixture of Pink Floyd tracks and his own solo material.
The final two performances will take place at the Echo Arena in Liverpool on May 15th and the O2 Arena in London on May 18th.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS
1954: Neal Schon guitarist for Journey/Santana
1657: Adrian Smith guitarist for Iron Maiden
1957: Johnny Van Zant-singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd