Reunion Time In America
It’s high-school reunion time throughout America and, wherever you’re having yours, you know the routine:
It usually starts with an advance notice, which then builds curiosity. Then, as the day comes closer and closer, we sorta back away from it a bit because someone … somewhere in that crowd of formerly-familiar faces … might be “better” or “richer” or “better-looking” than us. And (heaven forbid!) what … what if we ran into our old high-school sweetheart?? You know … the one who “got away” from us and married and is so in love with her new, fancy hubby?
Then, as the day draws to within shoutin’ distance, we start to feel a bit of panic … “butterflies” set in as we start our drive to the club/wherever-it’s-held.
Hey … go on in and enjoy, though — and remember: this wing-ding only happens once every ten years! If you’re skittish, just dig the good times and “bow out” at yer leisure …
But there’s another reunion that’s goin’ on … and this one oughtta be a doozy (okay … old word, I know, but oughtta be used at least once-in-awhile, right?).
Imagine bein’ behind the Pearly Gates right now and hearing an ageless Jimi Hendrix on lead, John Lennon on rhythm, Billy Powell on piano, Keith Moon on drums, Sky Saxon on bass and Michael Jackson singing! And that’s just one of the many bands at this continuing, ageless jam session!
On others, you’ll have Bobby Hatfield singing harmony, Ronnie Van Zandt or Stevie Ray Vaughan playin’ lead or rhythm, Mike Smith on piano, Mitch Mitchell drumming … or “Bonzo” Bonham, Otis Redding, James Brown or Jim Morrison singing, or even Roy Orbison … or Elvis … or, for the feminine touch, Janis Joplin. Sometimes, Buddy Holly will sit in …
And, still, there are others …
Reunions … while we look at ‘em down here with a bit of envy and (yes) even a little dread, look at what we’ve got to look forward to on the other side of the spectrum!!
Still … for your tenth, twentieth or fiftieth HS reunion, I say GO!! It’s a once-in-a-decade gig … and who knows? By the time the next one rolls around, some of the ones you see this time might already be enjoying the Big Jam Session in the Sky!!
Count yer blessings, yardbirds … and have a great time!! And always be thankful for the legacy we rockers have been left with …
Y’know, we’ve talked a lot about how to start a rock band, get its first gigs and into the ears of those who can help move it forward.
(very limited) circuit that have the “F-word” in their names.
Michael Jackson’s death yesterday has brought a looming question to thousands of fans who’d already bought tickets to his O2 This Is It shows:
“We are all saddened by the news of Michael Jackson’s death,” said CEO and founder Joe Cohen in a statement.
They’ve introduced new shoes (including a vegan line). They’ve been the subject of books. They’ve inspired a new style of punk — and are the premier band of that genre in the world.
When Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor asked fans for help, they answered to the tune of $260,000+ in just two days to help a man in dire need of a heart transplant. As of this writing, it’s reached $850,000+!
Eric’s situation shines a bright light on a broken health care system, and his particular set of problems are being addressed on the political front, aiming for reform in addition to the need for immediate financial help to keep him alive TODAY. I think we can help with the latter,’” he wrote.
He’ll be one of the last acts to ever play Giants Stadium.
At the time of his death in 1981, it was found that Chapin had donated almost all of his personal fortune to charity!
Man, talk about an “idea whose time has come”:
Sir Paul McCartney — who’s due to play at the opening of Citi Field (the new home of the NY Mets) has added a third concert set for Tuesday, 21 July. The first two shows (on 17 & 18 July) sold out in just under five minutes!
Of course, the gigs will feature classics from Macca’s extensive catalog, including Beatles, Wings and his solo career hits. He’ll also include selections from his most recent album, Electric Arguments, released under his alias of The Fireman.
Gotta admit: I’m a tremendous fan of the Fox drama “House”, with actor/comedian Hugh Laurie as unconventional doc Gregory House. Not only is he an accomplished actor and pianist, but his character’s probably the closest that series-TV has come to rock.
And, in case ya haven’t heard, Chastity Bono — daughter of Cher and the late Sonny Bono and gay rights activist in her own right — is undergoing a (wellll, here’s how media put it) gender transitioning from female to male (ummm, are there any other “genders”?).
Well, looks like someone’s finally decided to study it:
The year was 1966. I’d been a guitarist for about three years, and had a decent set of pipes — not like today, where my voice sounds like the mating call for bullfrogs! (Awww, it comes with age … and a lot of voicework [I've been a DJ and am now freelancing in voiceovers, as well as a lot of presswork for
I dunno … maybe there’s just too much access these days: Ipods, YouTubes, ThemSomethings or whatever, along with the internet exposure and CDs being churned out without promoted singles might have something to do with it.
It’s been recently discovered that specific decibel levels can, in fact, spark a healing mechanism within the body chemistry that can help in various neurological and, at times, physical malfunctions. I believe it’s 25-50 Hz (if I’m wrong, I’ll update in the next post. My notes are at my other office).
NOW … LOOK AT THE PIC: Y’know, it seemed everybody had his or her fave Beatle in the early days. But it was more than just “Paul is dreeeeeeeeeammy!” or “Oh, Ringo’s so kyuuuuuuuuute!!”
John Lennon. Brash. Cocky. Witty. Daring. Now, this guy was the epitome of the words “mover and shaker” (and I don’t mean in just his music!). But every young teenaged male who envisioned himself as a “butt-kicker” idolized John!! He inspired courage and audacity, just as Paul inspired romanticism, George a philosophical slant and Ringo a quiet resignation.
Johnny Rotten (and some stampeding cows) have started a moooo-ve (had so say that. Sorry …) toward punk advertising in the UK.
But he is selling car insurance — and lots of it! Swiftcover says its first-quarter sales soared 31 percent over the same period last year, thanks to the ad.
Tony Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath, is being sued by the rest of the band because he used its name while they had disbanded. And now they want the name back because they’ve reunited!
‘Since 1997 when Geezer, Bill and myself rejoined the band, Black Sabbath has returned to its former glory as we headlined sold-out arenas and amphitheatres playing to upwards of 50,000 people at each show around the world.
Alice Cooper recorded under their banner … as did Mӧtorhead, Whitesnake, Blackmore’s Night and UFO.
Make no mistake about it: When Jay Leno leaves the Tonight Show … well, tonight …, he’s gonna leave a bag of mixed feelings behind.
Amy Winehouse, The Killers and The Rolling Stones have decided to work with a group of Cuban musicians on an album that’s being recorded to fight climate change.
Following the theme of so many classic (and heretofore disbanded) rockers, the famed UK band Kajagoogoo is reuniting!
As many of you know if you’ve been readin’ this site (and I hope ya have), Yoko Ono’s humongous jigsaw puzzle mural, called Promise, has been auctioned piece by piece to raise money for the cause, Autism Speaks. The pieces of art were unveiled last month on the United Nation’s World Autism Awareness Day.
On World Autism Awareness Day, many world leaders spoke out. President Barack Obama issued this statement:
Singer Katy Perry has joined with Cyndi Lauper, Yoko Ono and hip hop group N.E.R.D. to design T-shirts as part of H&M’s second Fashion Against AIDS collection.
If you remember, last year rock superstars Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood got together for a three-night gigs at Madison Square Garden.
EAST LANSING, Mich. /Music Industry Newswire/ — Ace Noface, a 38 year old man with Lou Gehrig’s disease, today announces the release of a piano rock CD, “Toxic Charm.” His goal is to leave a musical legacy behind, and raise awareness of ALS. May is ALS awareness month. Words like “inspiring” get used so casually that their meaning loses power. But in the case of Ace Noface, and his new album, Toxic Charm, one immediately becomes present to the true meaning of words like inspiration and courage.
“So much for Southern hospitality.
Activision Blizzard is releasing three new music-based video games this year — “DJ Hero,” “Guitar Hero 5″ and “Band Hero” — and has confirmed that “Guitar Hero: Van Halen” is on tap. The company provided few details on any of the games. “DJ Hero,” which previously was confirmed, still doesn’t have a full set list in place, but the company has released new details about the controller. It will be a single turntable device with three colored buttons similar to the five fret buttons featured on “Guitar Hero.”
“I have about 500 Beatles books, plus about 2,000 magazines, programmes and articles about The Beatles, yet I have not read one reference in them to Mr Clifford’s contribution,” harrumphs Davies.
Def Leppard’s 1983 breakthrough album “Pyromania” and their 1992 multi-platinum “Adrenalize” are ready to be reissued on June 8th, the week that the band headlines this year’s Download Festival!
Second batch (due out on June 8):