December 26

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 26
James Kottak from The Scorpions is 47; Lars Ulrich from Metallica is 46; J from White Zombie is 42; Peter Klett from Candlebox is 40; Chris Daughtry is 30;


ON THIS DATE
1967 The Beatles TV special Magical Mystery Tour airs for the first time in England

December 25

BIRTHDAYS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY, DECEMBER 25
Annie Lennox, formerly with the Eurythmics, is 55;

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Top 10 CD'S of 2009

10. HEAVEN AND HELL...The Devil You Know
Tony Iommi is just utterly amazing, no matter who his front man might be. In this case it's Ronnie James Dio. This CD just flat out rocks!! Dio still has the ability to belt it out like he did in his 20's. A few highlights: "Bible Black" and "Follow The Tears"







9. FOREIGNER...Can't Slow Down
Their first album in 15 years and the first to feature their new lead vocalist Kelly Hansen who sounds uncannily like Lou Gramm! The songs are good, tight arena rock, whether they're fist-pumping anthems like the title track and "Give Me a Sign" or power ballads like "When It Comes to Love" and "As Long as I Live."





8. THE BLACK CROWES...Before The Frost...Until The Freeze
This is a double-album's worth of new material recorded in front of a live audience at Levon Helm's barn in upstate New York. This is a rather remarkable record, a record that has all the easy interplay of a road-tested band but none of the weariness. The Crowes play with muscle, mixing the rustic ramble of "Appaloosa" or the gritty opener "Good Morning Captain". The band sounds alive on this terrific album.





7. QUEENSRYCHE...American Soldier
Geoff Tate is a fantastic singer and this concept CD is brilliant. Real soldiers giving their brief stories between tracks adds to the color and the mood of the music. "Home Again" could possibly be one the band's best tracks ever. Other highlights include: "Man Down" and "If I Were King"







6. ERIC CLAPTON AND STEVE WINWOOD...Live From Madison Square Garden
Clapton and Winwood did three concerts together at Madison Square Garden in February 2008, the results spawned this double-disc album and culls 21 highlights. Sequencing so Traffic numbers alternate with selections from Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos, blues standards, a handful of Clapton hits, and three Hendrix covers - "Them Changes" being the standout. Clapton and Winwood trade vocals and solos almost equally. Clapton and Winwood create sparks such as the '80s hits "Forever Man" and "Split Decision," both which are highlights here. This isn't an album of moments, but rather a sustained whole that finds Clapton and Winwood producing a wholly satisfying reunion.



5. ALICE IN CHAINS...Black Gives Way To Blue
AIC fans that were worried about Layne Staley's replacement had their fears put to rest when this CD came out. William DuVall gives an outstasnding vocal performance on this record. What helps is the tracks are basically the type of rockin' track you'd expect from the band. the 14 year wait was worth it. Highlights: "A Looking In View", "All Secrets Known", "Your Decision" and "Check My Brain"





4. CHICKENFOOT...Chickenfoot
What a wild and exciting record this is. Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony (both formerly with Van Halen), Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Pepper's drummer Chad Smith combine for this (you hate to say 'supergroup') outing and the results are great rock 'n'roll, folks!! Nothing fancy, just straight ahead-have fun-in your face-jamming Rock N' Roll. Highlights: "Soap On A Rope", "Oh Yeah" and "Sexy Little Thing"





3. PAUL McCARTNEY...Good Evening New York City
One Knight, over two hours of music, from three concerts. Full of the "hits" - but check out "Mrs Vanderbilt" and "Highway".










2. KISS...Sonic Boom
The wait was way too long for some new music from KISS but it finally came and the results were very very good. While the band was recording this CD they would tell the press that Sonic Boom would be very 70's sounding KISS. To this listeners ears it was a little more like 80's KISS but 80's KISS was good. Gene Simmons bass playing is the best it's ever been on a KISS record and Eric Singer is a beast on the drums. Only drawback: it's available only at Walmart. KISS still rocks, folks, don't kid yourself. Highlights: "Say Yeah", "Modern Day Delilah" "I'm An Animal" aand "Russian Roulette"



1. ACE FREHLEY...Anomaly
Ace Frehley is the coolest dude in Rock 'N' Roll. He is a guitar god and an extremely talented songwriter. Anomaly sounds more like what KISS fans would want a new KISS record to sound like. Here on this CD are a collection of great sounding, very well produced, very well crafted straight ahead hard rock. It had been 20 years since Ace put out an album and he definitely got it right, making this our pick for the number one album of 2009. Highlights: "Outer Space", "Fox On The Run", "Genghis Khan", "A Little Below The Angels" and "Fractured Quantum"

TOP 10 ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK (12-24-2009)
(1)1. STING...If On A Winter's Night...
(3)2. PAUL McCARTNEY...Good Evening New York City
(2)3. BON JOVI...The Circle
(4)4. ROD STEWART...Soulbook
(7)5. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
(6)6. DAUGHTRY...Leave This Town
(5)7. BOB DYLAN...Christmas In The Heart
(8)8. FOO FIGHTERS...Greatest Hits
(9)9. CREED...Full Circle
(Re-enter)10. BREAKING BENJAMIN...Dear Agony

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 24
Lemmy from Motorhead is 64;

December 23

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 23
Jorma Kaukonen from Jefferson Airplane is 69; Ron Bushy from Iron Butterfly is 68; Dave Murray from Iron Maiden is 53; Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam is 45;

ON THIS DATE
1959 Chuck Berry is arrested and charged with the Mann Act after ttransporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. He is convicted and serves time in prison in Indiana and later in Kansas
1972 Grand Funk Railroad's former manager Terry Knight shows up with moving vans and the sheriff at one of GFR's concerts to collect their equipment. The nand and Knight have been involved in several nasty lawsuits. The sheriff tells Knight he cannot take the equipment until after the show
1986 Two teenagers from Reno, Nevada attempt suicide after listening to the album Stained Glass by Judas Priest. One dies and the parents sue the band claim ing it was their fault. That suit is later dismissed
1987 Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue is pronounced dead, but is then revived with 2 adrenaline shots to the chest

December 22

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 22
Barry Jenkins of the Animals is 65; Rick Nielsen from Cheap Trick is 63;

ON THIS DATE
1973 Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers is arrested for marijuana possession in Visalia, California
1978 Kenny Jones officially becomes a member of the Who

2002 Joe Strummer of the Clash dies of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Strummer was 50

New Rock Releases

December 22
NIRVANA...Live At Reading (vinyl)
MUDVAYNE...Mudvayne or vinyl LP with Digital Code
also a clean version
EVERYBODY'S FINE soundtrack

Box Sets, Greatest Hits, Compilations
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...Dave Matthews Band - Europe 2009 (3 CDs & 1 DVD)
THE WHO...Greatest Hits
NEIL YOUNG...Greatest Hits (2 LP 180 Gram Vinyl with Bonus 7 Inch Vinyl LP)
Various Artist...Monster Mullet Rock
Various Artist...This Is Stadium Anthems

January 12
Reissues
STEPHEN STILLS AND MANASSAS...Manassas (2 LP 180 Gram Vinyl)

February 2
LIFEHOUSE...Smoke And Mirrors

Reissues
SANTANA...Supernatural (Legacy Edition, Extra Tracks)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 21
Albert Lee is 66; Brett Scallions formerly with Fuel is 38;

ON THIS DATE
1970 Elvis Presley shows up unannounced and with no invitation to the White House to meet President Nixon

2007 Austin Winkler of Hinder is arrested for driving while intoxicated in Jonesboro, Arkansas

20,807

December 20

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 20
Peter Criss formerly of Kiss is 64; Alan Parsons is 61; Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1975 Joe Walsh joins the Eagles
2006 Matthew Fisher formerly with Procol Harum wins his lawsuit for royalties from "A Whiter Shade Of Pale" but was awarded 40% of the composers' share of the music copyright, rather than the 50% he was seeking and was not granted royalties prior to 2005

2006 Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith announces he is cancer-free
2007 Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli's divorce becomes final

Central Florida Concert Datebook

CENTRAL FLORIDA CONCERT DATEBOOK

Wednesday, December 30 RICK SPRINGFIELD Seminole Hard Rock And Casino Tampa
Thursday, December 31 BulletBoys Boothill Saloon Daytona Beach
Saturday, January 2 SEVENDUST House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Sunday, January 10 SMILE EMPTY SOUL Firestone Live Orlando
Thursday, January 14 EDDIE MONEY Captain Hiram's Resort Sebastian
Friday, January 15 FOREIGNER/EDDIE MONEY Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Saturday, January 16 RICHIE HAVENS Capital Theatre Clearwater
Saturday, January 23 RICHIE HAVENS Mt. Dora Community Center Mt. Dora
Saturday, January 23 MARTY BALIN Skipper's Smokehouse Tampa
Friday, February 5 B.B. KING/BUDDY GUY Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Saturday, February 13 HEART Universal Studios Orlando
Friday, February 19 THE ROBERT CRAY BAND Plaza Theatre Orlando
Saturday, February 20 THE ROBERT CRAY BAND Coachmen Park Clearwater
Sunday, February 21 HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS Busch Gardens Tampa
Saturday, February 27 YES Sea World Orlando
Thursday, March 4 THE MOODY BLUES Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater
Monday, March 8 THE MOODY BLUES Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
Thursday, March 11 THE MOODY BLUES Van Wezel Performing Arts Center Sarasota
Thursday, March 11 JOHN CAFFERTY Orlando
Saturday, March 13 ED KOWALCZYK (of LIVE) House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Saturday, March 13 ERIC CLAPTON/ROGER DALTRY Amway Arena Orlando
Sunday, March 21 GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS House Of Blues Lake Buena Vista
Thursday, March 25 BLUE OYSTER CULT Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
Friday, March 26 FOGHAT Downtown Bradenton

Friday, April 9 TAMPA BAY BLUES FESTIVAL: JIMMIE VAUGHAN Vinoy Park St. Petersburg
Saturday, April 10 TAMPA BAY BLUES FESTIVAL: KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD Vinoy Park St. Petersburg
Friday, April 16 NELSON Epcot Center Lake Buena Vista
Friday, April 16 STYX Hard Rock Cafe Orlando
Saturday, April 17 NELSON Epcot Center Lake Buena Vista
Saturday, April 17 BON JOVI St. Pete Times Forum Tampa
Sunday, April 18 NELSON Epcot Center Lake Buena Vista
Monday, April 19 NICKELBACK/BREAKING BENJAMIN/SICK PUPPIES Amway Arena Orlando
Thursday, April 29 SPIN DOCTORS Hard Rock Hotel Orlando
Saturday, July 3 SURVIVOR Busch Gardens Tampa

December 19

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 19
Alvin Lee of Ten Years After is 65; Doug Johnson of Loverboy is 52; Kevin Shepard of Tonic is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1955 Carl Perkins records "Blue Suede Shoes"

1993 Michael Clarke of the Byrds dies of liver failure in Treasure Island, Florida. Clarke was 47
2003 Peter Eckenrod pleads no contest for scheming to defraud and fraudulent use of a credit card and receives 25 months in prison for pretending to be Mark Tremonti of Creed
2006 At a Disturbed concert in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin 30 people are taken to a local hospital after receiving cuts, bruises and overheating in a mosh pit
2006 The F.B.I. release documents relating to their investigation of John Lennon after President Nixon thought Lennon was providing financial assistance to left wing causes but there was never any evidence to support this theory

December 18

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 18
Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones is 66; Elliot Easton of the Cars is 56; DJ Lethal of Limp Bizkit is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1938 Chas Chandler of the Animals was born in in the Heaton district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. Chandler died in 1996
1975 Rod Stewart announces that he is leaving the Faces
1976 Fly Like An Eagle by the Steve Miller Band is released

1983 Keith Richards marries Patti Hansen in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Mick Jagger is the best man
2006 Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, the Doors and Santana all file suit against Wolfgang's Vault in U.S. District Court to stop streaming footage of the group’s live shows taped during the ‘60s at the Fillmore auditoriums in New York and San Francisco
2007 Kissology 3: 1992-2000 DVD by Kiss is released
2008 Shinedown annonce that Zach Myers has replaced Nick Perri on guitar

Top 10 Rock CD's/Downloads For This Week (12-17-2009)

TOP 10 ROCK CD'S/DOWNLOADS FOR THIS WEEK (12-17-2009)
(1)1. STING...If On A Winter's Night...
(2)2. BON JOVI...The Circle
(4)3. PAUL McCARTNEY...Good Evening New York City
(3)4. ROD STEWART...Soulbook
(5)5. BOB DYLAN...Christmas In The Heart
(6)6. DAUGHTRY...Leave This Town
(10)7. NICKELBACK...Dark Horse
(7)8. FOO FIGHTERS...Greatest Hits
(9)9. CREED...Full Circle
(Re-enter)10. Various Artist...Twilight soundtrack

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 17
Paul Rodgers is 60; Mike Mills of R.E.M. is 51;

ON THIS DATE
1994 Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi marries Heather Locklear
2007 It is announced that Stephen Stills has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will undergo treatment for the disease

IN CONCERT
Sunday, February 21 HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS Busch Gardens Tampa
Thursday, April 29 SPIN DOCTORS Hard Rock Hotel Orlando

December 16

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 16
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top is 60; Christopher Thorn of Blind Melon is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1983 Pete Townshend announces that he will no longer record or perform live with the Who
2008 Cinco Diablo by Saliva is released

2008 Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath files a lawsuit against Live Nation and their subsidiary Signatures Network Inc. for copyright infringement claiming that they are selling merchandise with Black Sabbath images despite the expiration of a licensing agreement

December 15

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 15
Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge is 63; Paul Simonon of The Clash is 54;

ON THIS DATE
1992 Insecticide by Nirvana is released
2006 B.B. King receives the Medal of Freedom from President George Bush in recognition of his musical accomplishments

New Rock Releases

NEW ROCK RELEASES
December 15
GREEN DAY...Bullet In A Bible (2 vinyl LP)
JULIAN LENNON/JAMES SCOTT COOK...Lucy (EP)

Vinyl Reissues
NIRVANA...In Utero (180 gram vinyl)
NIRVANA...MTV Live Unplugged (180 gram vinyl)

December 21
NIRVANA...Live At Reading (vinyl)
MUDVAYNE...Mudvayne or vinyl LP with Digital Code
also a clean version
EVERYBODY'S FINE soundtrack

Box Sets, Greatest Hits
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...Dave Matthews Band - Europe 2009 (3 CDs & 1 DVD)
THE WHO...Greatest Hits
NEIL YOUNG...Greatest Hits (2 LP 180 Gram Vinyl with Bonus 7 Inch Vinyl LP)

January 12
Reissues
STEPHEN STILLS AND MANASSAS...Manassas (2 LP 180 Gram Vinyl)

February 2
LIFEHOUSE...Smoke And Mirrors

Reissues
SANTANA...Supernatural (Legacy Edition, Extra Tracks)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 14
Cliff Williams of AC/DC is 60;


ON THIS DATE
2004 A lawsuit is filed in L.A. Superior Court claiming that a soccer ball kicked from the stage during an August 31st Rod Stewart concert at the Hollywood Bowl caused a concertgoer "personal injuries, physical disability and physical and emotional distress, pain and suffering
2005 Jimmy Page is appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace
2006 Co-founder of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegun, dies at the age of 83 from injuries he received when he fell at a Rolling Stones concert 6 weeks earlier

December 15

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 13
Ted Nugent is 61; Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of the Doobie Brothers is 61; Berton Averre of the Knack is 55; Amy Lee of Evanescence is 28;

ON THIS DATE
1974 George Harrison stops by the White House and meets President Gerald Ford

2004 A Maryland couple sues Walmart for selling Evanescence's Anywhere But Home CD/DVD without a parental advisory label

IN CONCERT
Sunday, January 10 SMILE EMPTY SOUL Firestone Live Orlando