June 30, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
JOHN MELLENCAMP...Dance Naked
Released: 20 years ago, June 21, 1994
Highest Chart Position: #13 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Wild Night, Dance Naked
(CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 30
Hal Lindes of Dire Straits is 61; Tom Drummond of Better Than Ezra is 45;

ON THIS DATE
1975 Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers marries Cher
1981 Jerry Lee Lewis is hospitalized with a hole in his stomach. He is given a 50/50 chance to live but leaves the hospital 2 weeks later
1994 Steve Gossard and Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam both testify at a congressional hearing regarding escalating concert ticket prices
1999 Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit becomes senior vice-president of Interscope Records
2000 Nine people are crushed to death at a Copenhagen Pearl Jam concert
2001 Guitarist Chet Atkins died in Nashville at age 77
2004 Dave Davies of the Kinks collapses from a stroke that leaves him paralyzed on the right side of his body
2005 Joe Loeffler is fired from Chevelle. That same day Scott Weiland of Velvet Revolver injures his ankle badly at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark
2006 The Cirque du Soleil presentation of "Love" featuring the music of the Beatles opens in Las Vegas, Nevada. Paul and Ringo attend
2007 In an Albuquerque, New Mexico court room Devon Townsend pleads guilty to stalking Linkin Park's Chester Bennington

June 29, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
PETE TOWNSHEND...The Iron Man
Released: 25 years ago, June 27, 1989
Highest Chart Position: #58 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: A Friend Is a Friend
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 29
Ian Paice of Deep Purple is 66; Don Dokken of Dokken is 61; Colin Hay of Men At Work is 61;

ON THIS DATE
1943 Robert "Bob" Brunning, the original bassist for Fleetwood Mac, is born in Bournemouth, England, UK.  Brunning died in 2011
1967 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones was found guilty for allowing his home to be used for smoking marijuana and sentenced to a year in jail. Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones was sentenced to 3 months in jail for possession of drugs. Both sentences were later dropped
1968 A Saucerful Of Secrets by Pink Floyd is released
1969 The Jimi Hendrix Experience play their last concert at the final day of the Denver Pop Festival
1973 Ian Gillian quits Deep Purple
1974 Neil Peart joins Rush
1998 George Harrison announced that he had undergone treatment of cancer due to smoking
2000 The graves of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd are vandalized
2000 Live At The Greek by the Black Crowes and Jimmy Page is released

June 28, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
ELTON JOHN...Caribou
Released: 40 years ago today, June 28, 1974
Highest Chart Position: #1 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me, The Bitch Is Back
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 28
Dave Knights of Procul Harum is 69;

ON THIS DATE
1969 Neil Young joins CSN and they become Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young
1996 The original members of Kiss begin their Reunion tour in Deteroit, Michigan
2004 Jimi Hendrix's brother, Leon, battles Jimi's stepsister, Janie Hendrix, in court to see who who should receive money from Jimi's posthumous releases, royalties and merchandise. Leon receives nothing
2004 Courtney Love of Hole shows up 5 hours late for a court appearance and the judge tells her that is grounds for her arrest
2010 Vince Neil of Motley Crue is released on $2,000 bail after being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol in Las Vegas, Nevada
2013 Boston founder Tom Scholz is ordered to pay the Boston Herald $132,000 in court costs after losing a defamation suit against the newspaper, who suggested the guitarist was responsible for the ’07 suicide of the band’s singer Brad Delp 
2013  Kid Rock aunches a North American summer tour only charging fans $20 per ticket

June 27, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
GRATEFUL DEAD...From The Mars Hotel
Released: 40 years ago today, June 27, 1974
Highest Chart Position: #16 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Ship Of Fools, China Doll, U.S. Blues
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ON THIS DATE
1971 The Allman Brothers Band, The J. Geils Band and Albert King play the final show at the Fillmore East
2002 John Entwistle of the Who dies in Las Vegas of an apparent drug-related heart attack
2006 Axl Rose of Guns 'N Roses is arrested and charged with damaging property, assault and threatening a police officer in Stockholm, Sweden and is freed after paying a $5,500 fine. That same day Kiss opens a Kiss coffehouse in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
2009 Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen marries Janie Liszewski
2012 Godsmack are forced to cancel a European tour so that Sully Erna can rest his vocal chords under the advice of doctors

June 26, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
QUEEN...Live Killers
Released: 35 years ago today, June 26, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #16 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: We Are The Champions

In 1979 Queen had become quite popular with several hit singles and albums, sold out concerts around the world, a flamboyant lead singer and a killer lead guitarist. Now, let me just say upfront that I am not the biggest Queen fan, even though I do like them. This live album from 1979 does not help me, either. First, the sound quality of the record I have always felt is not the greatest. I can't explain it, really, the sound on the record is just not "right". maybe it's my ears, I don't know, or could it be that I'm just not that thrilled by the album. I do recommend it if you like Queen.  It has live energetic performances of all the favorite Queen hits recorded before this album was recorded and also many many others do love this album.  We can't all have the same taste, that would be boring.  I only give it a 1 out of 5 stars but you should check it out for yourself
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

 ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 26
Larry "The Mole" Taylor of Canned Heat is 72; Mick Jones formerly with the Clash is 59; Chris Isaak is 58; Patty Smyth of Scandal is 57; Terri Nunn of Berlin is 53; Colin Greenwood of Radiohead is 45; Nathan Followill of the Kings of Leon is 35;

ON THIS DATE
1977 Elvis Presley performs his final concert in Indianapolis, Indiana
1996 Sammy Hagar leaves Van Halen

June 25, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BOB DYLAN AND THE BAND...Before The Flood
Released: 40 years ago, June 20, 1974
Highest chart Position: #3 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 25
Ian McDonald of Foreigner is 68; Tim Finn of Crowded House is 62; David Paich of Toto is 60; Mike Kroeger of Nickelback is 42; Mario Calire of the Wallflowers is 40;

ON THIS DATE
1946 Allen Lanier of Blue Oyster Cult is born in Long Island, New York. Lanier died in 2013

1994 Pearl Jam cancels their tour due to their feud with Ticketmaster
2004 David Bowie finds out he has a blocked artery and cancels his European tour. Bowie has surgery two weeks later
2005 Domenic Troiano of the Guess Who and the James Gang dies of cancer in Toronto. He was 59
2010 Rush are inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame

June 24, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
ROD STEWART...Canouflage
Released: 30 years ago, June 18, 1984
Highest Chart Position: #18 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: All Right Now, Infatuation, Some Guys Have All The Luck

So many people feel like Rod Stewart hasn't put out a great album since 1977 but for me this album definitely proves that theory wrong.  Sure, "Camouflage" doesn't have the gritty straight-ahead rock 'n' roll Stewart became famous for during the 70's but it still has some great moments on it, particularly the cover of the Free classic "All Right Now," which is given an excellent 80's feel with great vocals from Rod. "Bad For You" has some nice guitar work from Jeff Beck.  The 2 singles, "Infatuation" and "Some Guys Have All The Luck" are good catchy pop tunes, and the final track, "Trouble' is a beautiful ballad.  The Allmusic review is not flattering at all but I recommend it for sure.  "Camouflage" is a good record
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 24
Arthur Brown is 72; Jeff Beck is 70; Colin Blunstone of The Zombies is 69; Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac is 67; John Illsley of Dire Straits is 65; Curt Smith of Tears For Fears is 53; Jeff Cease formerly with the Black Crowes is 47;

ON THIS DATE
2008 The Sound Of Madness by Shinedown is released
2008 The Saints Of Los Angeles by Mötley Crüe is released
2010 Pete Quaife, formerly with the Kinks, dies in Herlev, Denmark at the age of 66

June 23, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
NIRVANA...Bleach
Released: 25 years ago, June 15, 1989
Highest Chart Position: #89 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: About a Girl
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 23
Frank Funaro of Cracker is 56; Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth is 52; KT Tunstall is 39;

ON THIS DATE
1975 Alice Cooper falls off the stage in Vancouver and suffered 6 broken ribs
2005 Four people are stabbed, one fatally, at a Corrosion of Conformity concert in Tampa, Florida. A few days later Michael John Pyne is charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and aggravated assault
2010 Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers has a liver transplant in Jacksonville, Florida
2013  Blues great Bobby "Blue" Bland died in Germantown, Tennessee.  Bland was 83

June 22, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
AMERICA...Silent Letter
Released: 35 years ago, June 15, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #110 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Only Game In Town, All My Life, All Around
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 22
Bobby Harrison, formerly with Procol Harum, is 75; Todd Rundgren is 66; Derek Forbes formerly with Simple Minds is 58; Garry Beers of INXS is 57; Mike Edwards of Jesus Jones is 50; Steven Page of the Barenaked Ladies is 44; Chris Traynor of Bush is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1967 Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones go on trial for drugs. Richards spends limited time in jail
1969 Blind Faith by Blind Faith is released
1981 Mark David Chapman pleads guilty to murdering John Lennon
1992 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana is rushed into the hospital in Ireland because of acute stomach pains
2006 Chad Kroeger of Nickelback is arrested for driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit in Surrey, Canada
2010 Scream by Ozzy Osbourne is released
2010 Marky Ramone from the Ramones files a lawsuit claiming he has not received royalties from the band since 2008 and is seeking $175,000 in back royalties and $1 million in punitive damages

June 21, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
DEEP PURPLE...Deep Purple
Released: 45 years ago today, June 21, 1969
Highest Chart Position: #162 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Lalena, Bird Has Flown
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 21
Ray Davies of The Kinks is 70; Joey Molland of Badfinger is 67; Don Airey of Deep Purple is 66; Joey Kramer of Aerosmith is 64; Nils Lofgren is 63; Mike Einziger of Incubus is 38; Brandon Flowers of the Killers is 33;

ON THIS DATE
1966 The Rolling Stones sue 14 hotels in New York that won't let the Stones stay there, saying it hurts their reputation
1968 Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones arrested for marijuana possession for the second time
1975 Ritchie Blackmore quits Deep Purple to form Rainbow
1990 Little Richard gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2001 John Lee Hooker dies in Los Altos, California at the age of 83
2010 Autopsy results are revealed in the death of Paul Gray of Slipnot.  Gray had significant heart disease but also overdosed on morphine and fentanyl 
2012  The Black Keys file lawsuits in Los Angeles against Home Depot and Yum! Brands Inc., parent company of Pizza Hut, over unauthorized use of their songs in commercials

Top 10 Rock Albums For This Week

TOP 10 ROCK ALBUMS FOR THIS WEEK
(For the week of June 13-19, 2014)

(Enter)1. JACK WHITE...Lazaretto  (vinyl, CD)
(4)2.  BLACK KEYS...Turn Blue  (vinyl, CD)
(1)3.  LED ZEPPELIN...Led Zeppelin (vinyl, CD)
(Enter)4.  HELLYEAH...Blood For Blood (vinyl, CD)
(2)5.  LED ZEPPELIN...Led Zeppelin II (vinyl, CD)
(3)6.  LED ZEPPELIN...Led Zeppelin III (vinyl, CD)
(Enter)7.  TESLA...Simplicity  (CD)
(5)8.   IMAGINE DRAGONS...Night Visions  (vinyl, CD)
(Enter)9.  CHRISSIE HYNDE...Stockholm  (vinyl, CD)
(6)10. ARCTIC MONKEYS...AM  (vinyl, CD)

June 20, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
GRATEFUL DEAD...Aoxomoxoa
Released: 45 years ago today, June 20, 1969
Highest Chart Position: #73 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: China Cat Sunflower, Dupree's Diamond Blues, St. Stephen
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 20
Michael Anthony of Chickenfoot is 60; John Taylor of Duran Duran is 54; Chino Moreno of Deftones is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1978 Double Vision by Foreigner is released
1998 Mike Dirnt of Green Day gets his skull fractured after he gets hit in the head with a beer bottle backstage in Irvine Meadows, California

June 19, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
GLENN FREY...The Allnighter
Released: 30 years ago today, June 19, 1984
Highest Chart Position: #22 U.S. Billboard album Charts
Track Highlights: Smuggler's Blues, Sexy Girl, The Allnighter
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 19
Ann Wilson of Heart is 64; Simon Wright, who has been in AC/DC and Dio and currently with Geoff Tate, is 51; Brian Vander Ark of Verve Pipe is 48; Brian "Head" Welch of KoRn is 44;

ON THIS DATE
2006 Duane Roland of Molly Hatchet dies of natural causes at the age of 53 in St. Augustine, Florida
2012 Rickey Charles Goodrich, a former executive with Pearl Jam's management company, is arrested in Seattle on 25 counts of first-degree theft and eight counts of second-degree theft as he is alleged to have swindled $380,000 from Pearl Jam between ‘06 and ’10 for his personal use 
2013 Black Sabbath have their first Billboard number 1 album with "13"

June 18, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
JOHN COUGAR...John Cougar
Released: 35 years ago today, June 18, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #64 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Small Paradise, I Need A Lover
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 18
Sir Paul McCartney is 72; Dizzy Reed of Guns 'N' Roses is 51;

ON THIS DATE
1967 The Monterey Pop Festival ends
1977 Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols is attacked and has his hands and face slashed
1987 Motley Crue is sued by a woman seeking $5,000 in damages after she claims her hearing was damaged at a Crue concert
2005 Johnny Ramone of the Ramones is hospitalized for an infection related to prostate cancer
2005 The Foo Fighters give a private, invite-only, free concert for 500 fans near Roswell, New Mexico
2006 Rivers Cuomo of Weezer marries Kyoko Ito, in Malibu, California
2007 Motley Crue initiate a $20 million lawsuit against Carl Stubner, one of their managers for damaging Crue's reputation by deliberately promoting Lee's solo projects ahead of the group’s in order to net a higher commission for himself
2008 9 songs from Guns 'N' Roses album Chinese Democracy are leaked online prompting a cease-and-desist order given by lawyers for Axl Rose
2011 Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band dies of complications from a stroke he had suffered a week earlier. Clemons was 69

June 17, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
SPIN DOCTORS...Turn It Upside Down
Released: 20 years ago, June 14, 1994
Highest Chart Position: #28 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Cleopatra's Cat, You Let Your Heart Go To Fast
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ON THIS DATE
1956 Paul Young of Mike + The Mechanics is born in Benchill, Wythenshawe, Manchester, England. Young died in 2000 (Not to be mistaken for the Paul Young who sang 'Everytime You Go Away')
2005 Karl Mueller of Soul Asylum dies due to throat cancer in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the age of 41
2008 Nostradamus by Judas Priest is released
2010 Slash  is chosen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2011  Slipknot plays their first show since the death of Paul Gray. The band's original bassist, Donnie Steele, is back in the band

NEW RELEASES

NEW RELEASES

June 17
LINKIN PARK...The Hunting Party (CD)
PETER FRAMPTON...Hummingbird In A Box (vinyl, CD)
DAVE MATTHEWS BAND...Remember Two Things (limited edition vinyl)
ERIC JOHNSON...Europe Live (vinyl, CD)
NAZARETH...Rock 'N' Roll Telephone (vinyl, CD)
NOTHING MORE...Nothing More (vinyl, CD)
JIMI HENDRIX...Blue Wild Angel: Jimi Hendrix Live At The Isle Of Wight (blu-ray)
B.B. KING...Life Of Riley (blu-ray)
IAN McLAGAN AND THE BUMP BAND...United States (vinyl, CD)
VERVE PIPE...Overboard (CD)

June 24
BEATLES...A Hard Day's Night (DVD, blu-ray)
PETER GABRIEL...Back To Front (DVD, blu-ray)
DAVID BOWIE...Diamond Dogs 40th Anniversary 7" Picture Disc vinyl)
Various Artist...Light My Fire-A Classic Rock Salute To The Doors (CD)
GINGER BAKER...Why (CD)
FLEETWOOD MAC...Greatest Hits (vinyl release)

June 16, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE...Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe
Released: 25 years ago, June 20, 1989
Highest Chart Position: #30 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Brother Of Mine, Order Of The Universe
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ON THIS DATE
1967 The Monterey Pop Festival begins. The list of performers in quite impressive: The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Animals, Buffalo Springfield
1970 The company who provided the money for Woodstock, Woodstock Ventures, announce that they lost money on the concert
1975 John Lennon sues the U.S. government for "selective prosecution" as the U.S. try to deport him
1982 James Honeyman-Scott of the Pretenders dies of a heroin overdose. That same day Donnie Van Zant of .38 Special is arrested for drinking on stage
1994 Kristen Pfaff of Hole dies of a heroin overdose
2007 Rod Stewart marries Penny Lancaster
2009 Let It Roll: Songs By George Harrison by George Harrison is released
2012 Radiohead's stage collapses during construction in Toronto killing the group’s drum tech

June 15, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
DIRE STRAITS...Communique
Released: 35 years ago today, June 15, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #11 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Lady Writer
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 15
Steve Walsh of Kansas is 63; Brad Gillis of Night Ranger is 57; Scott Rockenfield of Queensryche is 51; Dryden Mitchell of Alien Ant Farm is 38; Billy Martin of Good Charlotte is 33;

ON THIS DATE
1974 Geoff Britton becomes the new drummer for Wings
1982 The Pretenders fire Pete Farndon from the band due to his drug problems. Farndon over-dosed the next year
1989 Bleach by Nirvana is released
1999 Supernatural by Santana is released
2004 Live In Boston by Fleetwood Mac is released
2010 Mojo by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers is released
2010 Bingo by the Steve Miller Band is released

June 14, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS...Pure And Simple
Released: 20 years ago today, June 14, 1994
Highest Chart Position: -
Track Highlights: Spinster, World Of Denial
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 14
Rod Argent of The Zombies and Argent is 69; Alan White formerly with Yes is 65; Chris DeGarmo formerly with Queensryche is 51;

ON THIS DATE
1966 The 'Butcher Cover', as it is widely known, was pulled from shelves by Capitol Records due to "extreme negative feedback." The Beatles' Yesterday...And Today cover is replaced by a standard group photo
1970 Workingman's Dead by the Grateful Dead is released
1995 Ted Nugent refuses to turn it down after 20 residents of Columbus, Ohio complain to authorities that his concert is too loud
2003 VH1 present the Top 100 songs of the past 25 years. At #1: Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
2005 In Your Honor by the Foo Fighters is released
2006 Heather Mills announces that she and Paul McCartney are divorcing. That same day Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones checks into a rehab center in England
2007 Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi completes his detox stint at UCLA Medical Center
2011 A Treasure by Neil Young is released

June 13, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
THE CARS...Candy-O
Released: 35 years ago today, June 13, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #3 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: It's All I Can Do, Let's Go
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 13
Paul deLisle of Smash Mouth is 51; Rivers Cuomo of Weezer is 44;

ON THIS DATE
1989 Jerry Lee Lewis gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
1995 Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette is released
2006 Jonathan Davis of KoRn is released from a hospital in London after being treated for a blood disorder. That same day Elliot Easton of the Cars has surgery on his collarbone that broke a week earlier after a fall on a tour bus
2006 One-X by Three Days Grace is released
2008 Scott Weiland and Eric Kretz of the Stone Temple Pilots are sued by Atlantic Records for allegedly threatening to prematurely end their recording contract with the label. That same day Kid Rock is admitted to a hospital in Nottingham for stomach cramps and dehydration
2011 Police in England arrested two men near Joss Stone's home in Cullompton, Mid Devon, who had plans to rob and kill her

Top 10 Rock Albums For This Week

TOP 10 ROCK ALBUMS FOR THIS WEEK
(For the week of June 6-12, 2014)

1.  LED ZEPPELIN...Led Zeppelin (vinyl, CD)
2.  LED ZEPPELIN...Led Zeppelin II (vinyl, CD)
3.  LED ZEPPELIN...Led Zeppelin III (vinyl, CD)
4.  BLACK KEYS...Turn Blue  (vinyl, CD)
5.  IMAGINE DRAGONS...Night Visions  (vinyl, CD)
6.  ARCTIC MONKEYS...AM  (vinyl, CD)
7.  SOUNDGARDEN...Superunknown  (vinyl, 4 CD/1 blu-ray)
8.  PARAMORE...Paramore  (vinyl, CD)
9.  NEIL YOUNG...A Letter Home  (vinyl, CD)
10. SANTANA...Corazon  (CD/DVD)

June 12, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
MR. BIG...Mr. Big
Released: 25 years ago, June 19, 1989
Highest Chart Position: #46 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Addicted To That Rush
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 12
John Wetton formerly with King Crimson and formerly with Asia is 65; Bun E. Carlos of Cheap Trick is 63; Bardi Martin formerly with Candlebox is 45; Kenny Wayne Shepherd is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1951 Brad Delp of Boston was born in Danvers, Massachusetts. Delp died in 2007
1968  Bobby Sheehan of the Blues Traveler is born in Summit, New Jersey.  Sheehan died in 1999
2006 KoRn cancels the remaining dates on their European tour when singer Jonathan Davis reveals he is suffering from the blood disorder Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
2008 Rush, along with other performers, are selected by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2011  Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist for the E Street Band, suffers a stroke at his home in Florida.Clemons died 6 days later

June 11, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
THE KNACK...Get The Knack
Released: 35 years ago today, June 11, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #1 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: My Sharona, Good Girls Don't
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 11
Frank Beard of ZZ Top is 65; Donnie Van Zant of .38 Special is 62; Dan Lavery of Tonic is 45; Tai Anderson of Third Day is 38;

ON THIS DATE
1965 It is announced that the Beatles would receive the MBE (Members of the British Empire)
1966 It is announced that Cream has formed with Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker
1995 Courtney Love of Hole passes out on a flight due to a reaction to prescription medicine and is hospitalized in Seattle
2002 Paul McCartney marries Heather Mills
2002 Untouchables by Korn is released
2010 Doug Ardito leaves Puddle Of Mudd. Damien Starkey is his replacement

June 10, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
THE WHO...The Kids Are Alright soundtrack
Released: 35 years ago, June 8, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #8 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: all of them

"The Kids Are Alright" soundtrack is one of the first things I ever heard by the Who.  I saw the film which opened with a television appearance on the Smothers Brothers show in 1967 where the band did a killer version of "My Generation" and then they destroyed everything in sight. Tommy Smothers comes on stage and has this bewildered look on his face.  I was then hooked and have been a fan ever since.  This is a fantastic listen, full of energy and history as their drummer Keith Moon had died only 9 months prior to this release.  A 4 out of 5 stars and highly recommended.
(vinyl, CD, DVD, blu-ray, Allmusic review)

 ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 10
Jimmy Chamberlin formerly with the Smashing Pumpkins is 50;

ON THIS DATE
1966 Janis Joplin makes her debut with Big Brother And The Holding Company in San Francisco at the Avalon Ballroom
1975 One Of These Nights by the Eagles is released
1977 Joe Strummer and Topper Headon of the Clash are arrested for painting 'The Clash' on a wall in London
1996 Wal-Mart pulls the Goo Goo Dolls album “A Boy Named Goo” due to “offensive” cover art 
2004 Ray Charles dies at the age of 73
2010 During a concert in Milan, Italy Slash is hit by a member of the audience.  Slash hits a stage monitor as he falls, smashing the guitar.  Slash then walks backstage, gets another guitar, and finishes the show
2010 Aerosmith is sued by Canadian promoter Keystone Entertainment Group Ltd. accusing them of a breach of contract and failing to respond to requests to reschedule the dates that got cancelled when Steven Tyler injured himself after falling off the stage. They ask for approximately $10 million
2013 Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard reveals that he has Hodgkin's Lymphoma

June 9, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BOSTON...Walk On
Released: 20 years ago, June 7, 1994
Highest Chart Position: #7 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: I Need Your Love, Walk On medley

While this album is very very good it cannot match the quality of Boston's first 3 albums ("Boston," "Don't Look Back" and "Third Stage). It is also very sad that it took Boston 18 years to release only 4 albums (and only 2 since "Walk On"). Nevertheless, long periods of time between albums is what Boston does.  "Walk On" has that classic Boston sound to it but the songs just can't match it's three predecessors.  I do recommend it as it is still a very good listen.  A three out of five stars.
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 9
Dean Felber of Hootie And The Blowfish is 47; Dean Dinning of Toad The Wet Sprocket is 47; Matthew Bellamy of Muse is 36;

ON THIS DATE
1915 Les Paul is born in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Paul died in 2009
1941 John Lord of Deep Purple is born in Leicester, United Kingdom.  Lord died in 2012
1958 Jerry Lee Lewis takes out a full page ad in Billboard magazine trying to explain his marriage to his 14 year old cousin Myra
1969 Mick Taylor signs on as the replacement of Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones
1972 Bruce Springsteen signs with Columbia Records
1978 Some Girls by the Rolling Stones is released
2008 Mötley Crüe initiate legal proceedings in L.A. against one of their managers. Crüe claim that Burt Stein took money from them and conducted deals behind their back

June 8, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
PAUL McCARTNEY AND WINGS...Back To The Egg
Released: 35 years ago today, June 8, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #8 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Arrow Through Me, Getting Closer, Spin It On, Winter Rose/Love Awake, Rockestra Theme

This turned out to be the last album Paul recorded with his band Wings. This also turned out to be the rockinest album Paul has ever released as the punk movement was riding high in europe in 1979. It also has some great softer tunes with "Winter Rose/Love Awake" and "After The Ball/Million Miles".  This is a great album and sometimes I wish Paul would rock out more because he's fantastic at it.  This album alone proves that.  Check it out, I give it a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

 ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 8
Boz Scaggs who was once a member of the Steve Miller Band is 70; Mick Box of Uriah Heep is 67; Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran is 52; Derek Trucks is 35;

ON THIS DATE
1969 Brian Jones announces that he has left the Rolling Stones. Turns out the truth is that he was asked to leave by the band
1974 Rick Wakeman announces that he is leaving Yes, but has performed with them from time to time throughout the years
1991 Bruce Springsteen marries Patti Scialfa
2010 Miss America by Saving Abel is released

June 7, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS...Purple
Released: 20 years ago today, June 7, 1994
Highest Chart Position: #1 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Pretty Penny, Big Empty, Interstate Love Song, Unglued, Vasoline

I recently listened to this CD and I realized that I enjoyed it so much more than I did in the 90's but I cannot tell you why.  This is some good rock 'n' roll grunge style and it's hard to believe that it's now 20 years old.  I recommend it with 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 7
Eric Kretz of the Stone Temple Pilots is 48; Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction is 47;

ON THIS DATE
1976 Rock 'N' Roll Music by the Beatles is released
1979 Chuck Berry is charged with three counts of tax evasion a day before he pereforms at the White House
1993 In Cleveland, Ohio there is a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame
1994 Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is ordered to attend Alcoholics Anonymous and perform 200 hours of community service for pointing a shotgun at police officers earlier in the year
1995 Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead collapses on stage in Cleveland, Ohio. Greenewood has arm problems from playing repetitive guitar which causes his ear to bleed
2012 Bob Welch, a member of Fleetwood Mac from 1971 to 1974, died in Antioch, Tennessee after committing suicide. Welch was 66

June 6, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
JACKSON BROWNE...World in Motion
Released: 25 years ago today, June 6, 1989
Highest Chart Position: #45 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Anything Can Happen, Chasing You Into the Light, World In Motion
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 6
Gary "U.S." Bonds is 75; Steve Vai is 54; Tom Araya of Slayer is 53; Sean Yseult formerly with White Zombie is 48; Bardi Martin formerly with Candlebox is 45; James "Munky" Shaffer of Korn is 44;

ON THIS DATE
1962 The Beatles audition for producer George Martin at Abbey Road Studios in London. The rest is history
1989 Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders states that one way to help the environment is to be "firebombing McDonald’s restaurants”. Of course, they threaten legal action but settle for Hynde signing a statement saying she would never say that again
2002 Robbin Crosby of Ratt dies of a heroin overdose in Los Angeles, California. Crosby was 42
2004 Lars Ulrich of Metallica is put into the hospital and Steven Tyler from Aerosmith is also put into the hospital, both on the same day
2006 Billy Preston dies in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 59
2006 Rockford by Cheap Trick is released
2007 Bono of U2 meets with President Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel prior to the start of the G8 Summit in Heiligendamm, Germany. That same day Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi checks into an L.A. detox facility following the taping of Bon Jovi's MTV Unplugged in New York
2011  Neil Young files the first of three patents with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a high-resolution audio alternative to the MP3
2012  An unidentified model is arrested in France following the theft of three necklaces worth $200,000 from Guns 'N' Roses singer Axl Rose. The woman voluntarily reports to police claiming she' isn't sure how the necklaces wound up in her possession
2012  Adam Clayton of U2 appears in court at the trial of his former housekeeper, Carol Hawkins, who's accused of stealing nearly £2.5m from him on multiple dates between ‘04 and ’08
2013 Adrian Belew quits Nine Inch Nails

June 5, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
PAUL McCARTNEY...Flowers In The Dirt
Released: 25 years ago today, June 5, 1989
Highest Chart Position: #21 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: All of them

This album is one of the reasons I am a huge McCartney fan, besides the fact that he was once one of the Beatles.  This album is absolutely fantastic, my personal 2nd favorite McCartney record ("Flaming Pie" being number 1). Starting with track 4 ("Distractions") all the way to track 8 ("This One") is the best 5 song stretch of any album in rock 'n' roll history.  Yes, that's my opinion and I can have it as I do believe it, but it is reason enough for me to highly, highly, highly recommend you check this album out.  A 6 out of 5 stars, that's how good it is.
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 5
Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden is 62; Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs is 58; P-Nut of 311 is 40; Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy is 35;

ON THIS DATE
2002 Dee Dee Ramone of the Ramones dies in Hollywood, California. Ramone was 50
2003 Dave Rowberry of the Animals dies in London at the age of 62
2006 Elliot Easton of the Cars fractures his collarbone as the tour bus swerves to avoid another car and he falls out of his bunk
2007 Memory Almost Full by Paul McCartney is released
2009 Chickenfoot by Chickenfoot is released
2012 Gun 'N' Roses play a private show in Paris where an unidentified model steals three necklaces worth $200,000 from singer Axl Rose, who was not wearing the jewelry at the time. The woman voluntarily reports to the police the following day 

June 4, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN...Born In The U.S.A.
Released: 30 years ago today, June 4, 1984
Highest Chart Position: 31 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Born In The U.S.A., I'm On Fire, Glory Days, Dancing In The Dark, My Hometown

Some people feel like that when Bruce released this album that the best part of his career was over, claiming that he had gone commercial, that it wasn't as good as his older albums.  What if this album had not been the huge huge success it was?  Would they have said the same thing?  I doubt it.  The album has to date sold a staggering 30 million copies worldwide.  I think it's a fine album as two of my favorite Springsteen tracks are on this record ("I'm on Fire" and "My Hometown").  I personally recommend it but most of you have probably already heard this classic album from the Boss
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 4
Danny Brown of The Fixx is 63; Stefan Lessard of The Dave Matthews Band is 40; JoJo Garza of Los Lonely Boys is 34; Zac Farro, formerly with Paramore, is 24;

ON THIS DATE
1967 The Monkees win an Emmy for “Outstanding TV Comedy Series.”
1984 Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen is released
1997 Ronnie Lane of the Faces dies of multiple sclerosis at the age of 51
2000 Travis Barker of Blink 182 breaks his finger after getting into a fight outside a fast food restaurant in Cuyahoga, Ohio
2010 Adam Clayton of U2 files a lawsuit against Gaby Smyth, the bands financial manager, for relocating the band’s publishing company to Holland, to avoid paying high taxes in Ireland
2013 Joey Covington, a drummer for Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, dies in a car crash in Palm Springs, California. Covington was 67
2014 Doc Neeson of the Angels passed away due to a brain tumor. Neeson was 67

June 3, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
ELTON JOHN...Empty Sky
Released: 45 years ago, June 6, 1969 (UK), January 13, 1975 (US)
Highest Chart Position: #6 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Empty Sky, Skyline Pigeon
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 3
Ian Hunter of Mott The Hoople is 75; Suzi Quatro is 64; Kerry King of Slayer is 50; Mike Gordon of Phish is 49;

ON THIS DATE
1946 Michael Clarke of the Byrds is born in Spokane, Washington. Clarke died in 1993
1952 Billy Powell of Lynyrd Skynyrd is born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Powell died in 2009
1964 Ringo Starr of the Beatles collapses during a photo shoot and is admitted into the hospital with tonsillitis and pharyngitis
1982   Rusty Day, who was a member of the Amboy Dukes and Cactus, was shot and killed in Longwood, Florida. A band member of his used a machine gun to shoot up his house, killing Day and his son and a guest.  Day was 36
2008 Indestructible by Disturbed is released
2009 Krist Novoselic of Nirvana files for the position of county clerk in Washington State's Wahkiakum County.  Novoselic later withdraws

June 2, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE...In Step
Released: 25 years ago, June 6, 1989
Highest Chart Position: #33 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Tightrope, The House Is Rockin', Crossfire, Wall Of Denial
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 2
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones is 73;

ON THIS DATE
1964 On Charlie Watts 23rd birthday the Rolling Stones played their first U.S. concert at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts
1978 Darkness On The Edge Of Town by Bruce Springsteen is released
1998 Adore by the Smashing Pumpkins is released
2004 Ian Gillian of Deep Purple pleads guilty for drunk driving on May 22 and is banned from driving for 16 months and fined 500 pounds (around $800 US)
2005 Alex Lifeson of Rush, his son and his daughter-in-law file suit against the Naples, Florida Ritz-Carlton Hotel, their security director and 3 local police officers. They seek financial reparations for alleged injuries and mental anguish suffered from an incident that happened on New Years 2004 where they were arrested for resisting arrest
2006 Vince Welnick of the Grateful Dead commits suicide in Sonoma County, California at the age of 55. He is the 4th keyboardist for the Dead to die
2008 Bo Diddley, 79, a founding father of rock 'n' roll, died in Archer, Florida at age 79
2009 Big Whiskey And The GrooGrux King by the Dave Matthews Band is released
2010 At a concert hosted by President Barack Obama in the east room of the White House Sir Paul McCartney is giventhe U.S. Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, the highest honor given for pop music 

June 1, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BAD COMPANY...Bad Company  (1974)
Released: 40 years ago today, June 1, 1974
Highest Chart Position: #1 Billboard Album Charts
Track Highlights: Movin' On, Can't Get Enough, Bad Company, Ready For Love
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

 ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR JUNE 1
Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones is 67; Simon Gallup of The Cure is 54; Mike Joyce formerly with the Smiths is 51; Alanis Morissette is 40;

ON THIS DATE
1964 The Rolling Stones arrive in new York for their very first U.S. tour
1967 It was 47 years ago today, Sgt. Pepper's taught the band to play, as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles is released
1968 Dave Mason returns to Traffic but leaves once again in October 1968
1969 John Lennon records "Give Peace A Chance" during a bed-in for peace in Montreal with his wife Yoko Ono. Making an appearance on the recording are Tommy and Dick Smothers, Derek Taylor, Murray the K and Timothy Leary
1971 The two-room shack in Tupelo, Mississippi where Elvis Presley was born opens as a tourist attraction
1972 The Eagles by the Eagles is released
1975 On his 28th birthday Ron Wood performs in concert for the first time as a Rolling Stone in Baton Rogue, Louisiana
1999 Enema Of The State by Blink 182 is released
2011 Buffalo Springfield start their first tour in 43 years in Oakland, California
2013  Sammy Hagar's hometown of Fontana, California name a street after him: Hagar Way

May 31, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
UFO...Phenomenom
Released: 40 years ago, May 1974
Label: Chrysalis
Track Highlights: Give Her The Gun, Doctor Doctor, Rock Bottom
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)


ON THIS DATE
1948 John Bonham of Led Zeppelin is born in Worcestershire, England.  Bonham died in 1980
1961 Jimi Hendrix signs up for the Army
1976 The Who perform at the Charlton Athletic Grounds in England and according to the Guiness Book Of World Records it was the loudest concert ever at 120 decibels
2011 Ukelele Songs by Eddie Vedder is released
2013 Scott Weiland files a countersuit against his former band the Stone Temple Pilots, seeking $7 million in damages for what he believes was a conspiracy to oust him

May 30, 2014

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
PETER FRAMPTON...Where I Should Be
Released: 35 years ago today, May 30, 1979
Highest Chart Position: #19 U.S. Billboard Album Charts
Label: A&M
Track Highlight: I Can't Stand It No More
(vinyl, CD, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MAY 30
Topper Headon formerly with the Clash is 59; Tom Morello of Audioslave and Rage Against The Machine is 50; Patrick Dahlheimer of Live and the Gracious Few is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1968 The Beatles began recording sessions for what would be The Beatles, more commonly known as The White Album
1972 Bruce Springsteen auditions for Columbia Records’ John Hammond. He signs with the label a month later
1980 Carl Radle of Derek And The Dominoes dies from chronic kidney failure. He was 37
1992 Paul Simon and Edie Brickell marry in Montauk, Long Island, New York
1996 John Kahn of the Jerry Garcia Band dies at age 48 of complications from heart disease at his home in Mill Valley, California
2003 Rod Stewart files for a divorce from Rachel Hunter. That same day Paul and Heather McCartney announce they are expecting a child
2006 'The Hard Stuff' by George Thorogood and the Destroyers is relesed
2010 Ronnie James Dio is laid to rest at the Hall of Liberty in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills