March 31, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
CINDERELLA...Long Cold Winter  (1988)
Long Cold Winter is the second album from Cinderella, released 25 years ago in 1988.  It reached number 10 on the U.S. billboard album charts.  So often the second album from a band does not match the quality of the debut, but that is definitely not the case here.  This record is much, much better than their first, and I highly recommend it with a 3 out of 5 stars.  This time around the band kept those hard rock/heavy metal hooks alive, but they added some bluesy-type rock, such as the fantastic title track 'Long Cold Winter.'  Cinderella still were smart enough to record "the hits" on this album as MTV was heavily behind the music video  era of the 80's.  "Gypsy Road," "Don't Know What You've Got (Till It's Gone)" and "Coming Home" (all 3 good tracks) saw heavy rotation on MTV.  Mock me if you will but the "Hair Metal" era of rock n roll was a fun time, good bands, poofed hair and some good tunes...I miss the 80's.

(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 31
Mick Ralphs of Bad Company is 65; Angus Young of AC/DC is 58; Sean Hopper of Huey Lewis And The News is 60;

ON THIS DATE
1967 Jimi Hendrix sets fire to his guitar for the first time as he began his first British tour in London
1982 The Doobie Brothers announce that they are calling it quits
1992 Bruce Springsteen releases two albums of all new material on the same day, Human Touch and Lucky Town
1994 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana walks out of drug treatment center in California after only 3 days
2009 The Soundstage Sessions: Live in Chicago by Stevie Nicks is released

March 30, 2013

 THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB...Specter At The Feast  (2013)
Specter At The Feast is the 7th album from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.  It is currently at number 35 on the U.S. Billboard album chart.   I was surprised by this album.  It's actually pretty good.  "Let The Day Begin" flat out rocks! I really enjoyed the softer "Lullaby" and "Sometimes The Light" is a fantastic 'dreamy' track.  The album is almost an hour long but I did not find myself anxious for it to end.  A pretty good listen, I recommend it with a 3 out of 5 stars.

(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 30
Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues is 72; Eric Clapton is 68; Dave Ball of Procol Harum is 63; Tracy Chapman is 49;

ON THIS DATE
1966 85 people are arrested at a Rolling Stones concert in Paris for misbehaving
1967 The cover for The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was photographed
1967 Jimi Hendrix makes an appearance on "Top Of The Pops" to lip sync "Purple Haze", however the tape operator put in another song
1978 Paul Simonon and Topper Headon of the Clash are arrested in London for shooting pigeons
2004 Honkin' On Bobo by Aerosmith is released
2004 Todd Harrell of 3 Doors Down is acquitted of one count of simple assault in a Moss Point, Mississippi municipal court stemming from a 3/5/04 altercation with a man who accused the bassist of stealing newspapers from a coin-operated vending machine
2008 Martin Scorsese and the Rolling Stones attend the 'Shine A Light' New York premiere
2009 Josey Scott of Saliva has an emergency operation to treat a hemorrhaged arterial bleeding ulcer

March 29, 2011

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
CHRIS REA...New Light Through Old Windows: The Best Of Chris Rea  (1988)
New Light Through Old Windows: The Best Of Chris Rea was released 25 years ago in 1988.  It reached number 92 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  It is recommended with a rating of 3 out of 5 stars.  How many of you remember Chris Rea?  I had not ever listened to a Chris Rea album before so I thought it would be cool to check out one of his albums so I chose this compilation album.  I was pleasantly surprised when the second track played, 'Working On It.'  Whoa, I've heard a Chris Rea song before.  I used to hear this track on KFMX from Lubbock, Texas and, sure enough, as I did some research I find it reached number 1 on the Mainstream Rock charts.  That turned out to be my highlight.  I am impressed with Rea's vocals and the rest of the album was a pleasant listen.  'Stainsby Girls' and 'On The Beach' were also highlights.  Check it out if you like pop rock

(CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 29
Bobby Kimball of Toto is 66; Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction is 54; John Popper of Blues Traveler is 46;

ON THIS DATE
1975 Led Zeppelin have 6 albums on Billboard's Album chart, the first artist to do so. The 6 are: “Physical Graffiti” (No. 1), “Led Zeppelin IV,” “House of the Holy,” “Led Zeppelin II,” “Led Zeppelin” and “Led Zeppelin III”
2002 In Dublin, Ireland Bono is awarded an honorary knighthood, however he is not allowed to use the title "Sir"
2005 Family Jewels DVD by AC/DC is released
2006 Oteil Burbridge of the Allman Brothers Band is injured in a motorcycle accident. Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley of the band both were killed in motorcycle accidents. Also that day the Beatles' Apple Corps sues Apple Computer, stating that the computer company broke a 1991 agreement between the two companies of staying out of the music biz altogether and that iTunes breaks that agreement. Apple Computers later wins the suit

March 28, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
DAVE GROHL AND FRIENDS...Sound City: Real To Reel soundtrack  (2013)
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)
The soundtrack to Sound City: Real To Reel is currently at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  Dave Grohl, to me, is an interesting figure in the world of rock 'n' roll.  First, he was a member of Nirvana as their "off the chain" drummer. Then we know him as the "full-throttle" guitarist with the Foo Fighters.  Add to that...he's mingled with some of the biggest names in rock 'n'roll, even performed with some of them.  This dude gets around.  The whole idea for this album came about for a few reasons.  Sound City studios in Los Angeles has had many albums recorded there, several we are all familiar with, including Nevermind from Nirvana.  It closed its doors in 2011 and Grohl bought the analog mixing console and used it to create this soundtrack album.  A vast array of talent lend their hand in the project.  A couple of surprises include Rick Springfield.  Turns out the dude can rock.  The other is Paul McCartney.  Turns out he can rock, too.  Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) is also included, along with Robert Levon and Peter Hayes (both from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club), Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk (Rage Agaiinst The Machine, Audioslave), Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac), Corey Taylor (Slipknot, Stone Sour), Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick), Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age), Krist Novoselic (Nirvana), and session drummer Jim Keltner.  Recommended with a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 28
John Evans formerly with Jethro Tull is 65; Dave Keuning of the Killers is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1958 Jerry Lee Lewis sets his piano on fire at a concert in Brooklyn, New York after he was told that Chuck Berry would be closing Alan Freed’s Big Beat Show
1964 London’s Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum announce that the first rock band to be cast in wax will be the Beatles
1966 Big Hits (High Tides And Green Grass) by the Rolling Stones has its U.S. release
1982 David Crosby is arrested in Los Angeles for possession of qualudes, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of cocaine and carrying a concealed weapon
1994 Kurt Cobain enters rehad at SoCal Exodus Recovery Center, but he walks out 3 days later
1996 Phil Collins announces that he is leaving Genesis
2000 Ministry magazine pays Jimmy Page an undisclosed amount of money and offers Page an apology after the mag announced that Page contributed to the death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham by satanic rituals
2006 Educated Horses by Rob Zombie is released
2008 The Allman Brothers Band cancel some shows because Gregg Allman is having treatments for Heapatitis C

March 27, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
CHEAP TRICK...Heaven Tonight  (1978)
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 27
Tony Banks of Genesis is 63; Andrew Farriss of INXS is 54; Johnny April of Staind is 47; Brendan Hill of Blues Traveler is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1967 A riot broke out at a Rolling Stones concert in Halsinborg, Sweden
1973 Carlos Santana changes his name to Devadip
1979 Eric Clapton married Patti Boyd in Tuscon, Arizona
1986 Sammy Hagar performed his first concert as a member of Van Halen
1987 U2 do their own version of a "Rooftop Concert" in Los Angeles on the roof of Republic Liquor, all of which is filmed and made into a video for "Where The Streets Have No Name"
1992 At a U2 concert in Auburn Hills, Michigan Bono calls a pizza parlor and orders 10,000 pizzas. Only 100 pizzas are actually delivered
2008 It is announced that Clint Lowery has returned as guitarist for Sevendust
2009 Peter Gabriel meets with the president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon. Gabriel is seeking an investigation into the murders and disappearances of hundreds of women along the country's border with the United States

March 26, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE WEEK
ERIC CLAPTON...Old Sock  (2013)
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 26
Steven Tyler of Aerosmith is 65; Richard Tandy of Electric Light Orchestra is 65; Fran Sheehan formerly with Boston is 64; Monte Yoho of the Outlaws is 61; James Iha formerly of the Smashing Pumpkins is 45;

ON THIS DATE
1965 The Yardbirds announce their replacement for Eric Clapton: Jeff Beck
1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono begin their “Bed-in” at the Amsterdam Hilton
1975 The Who's film "Tommy" premieres in London
2002 Former drummer for Ozzy and Motley Crue, Randy Castillo, dies at the age of 51 due to cancer
2005 Paul Newell Hester of Crowded House commits suicide in Melbourne, Australia
2008 Clint Lowery returns to Sevendust

March 25, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
CANNED HEAT...Boogie With Canned Heat  (1968)
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 25
Elton John is 66;

ON THIS DATE
1966 Jeff Healey is born in Toronto, Ontario. He passed away in 2008 at the age of 41
1967 The Who perform their first concert in America in New York City
1968 The last original airing of the TV series "The Monkees", after 58 episodes
1986 Guns 'N' Roses signs to Geffen Records
2001 Bob Dylan wins an Oscar for "Things Have Changed" from the movie Wonder Boys
2002 At the Peter Buck of R.E.M.'s air-rage trial Bono of U2 testifies that Buck is one of the most boring people ever.
2005 A fire breaks out at Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's mansion in Buckinghamshire, England
2007 Elton John performs for the 60th time at Madison Square Garden on his 60th birthday
2008 Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi is arrested in Laguna Beach, California on suspicion of driving under the influence

March 24, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
DAVID BOWIE...The Next Day  (2013)
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 24
Nick Lowe is 64; Dougie Thomson of Supertramp is 62; Benj Gershman of O.A.R. is 33;

ON THIS DATE
1958 Elvis Presley was inducted into the Army in Memphis, Tennessee
1973 A fan jumps on stage and bites Lou Reed on the butt in Buffalo, New York
1991 The Black Crowes are kicked off as the opening act for ZZ Top because they criticized the tour sponsor Miller Beer
2001 Kari Hagar, wife of Sammy Hagar, delivers their second child Samantha Pastel Hagar in California. Also that day John Connolly of Sevendust marries Lori Kirkley
2006 A movie based on the 1969 death of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones premieres. The movie is called "Stoned"
2007 The Scorpions perform in Brussels, Belgium commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome
2008 Jimi Hendrix's estate, Experience Hendrix, wins a summary judgment in the U.K. against The Times of London who had inserted a CD with live Hendrix material into a September 2006 issue and the judge ruled the paper had not gained the right to do so
2008 The Smashing Pumpkins file a lawsuit in Los Angeles against their label Virgin Records for breach of contract for letting Amazon.com and PepsiCo to use their music in ads

March 23, 2013

 THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
CANDLEBOX...Candlebox  (1993)
(CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 23
Ric Ocasek of the Cars is 64; Damon Albarn of Blur is 45; John Humphrey of The Nixons is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1978 The Police sign with A&M Records
1979 Van Halen II by Van Halen is released
1985 Billy Joel and Chrisite Brinkley marry
2002 Dusty Hill of ZZ Top marries Charleen “Chuck” McCrory
2004 A "Greatest Hits" CD is released by Guns 'N' Roses despite a suit filed by Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan
2006 A photographer files a complaint against Kid Rock claiming that Rock's bodyguard roughed him up and that Rock took his camera before leaving the scene
2010 Sting In The Tail by the Scorpions is released

March 22, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BON JOVI...What about Now  (2013)
(CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 22
John Otto of Limp Bizkit is 36;

ON THIS DATE
1943 Keith Relf of the Yardbirds is born in London. He died in 1976 at the age of 33 of electrocution
1956 While on his way to be on the "Ed Sullivan Show" Carl Perkins is injured in a car accident
1963 Please Please Me by the Beatles is released in the U.K.
1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono hold a 'Bed-In' for peace in Amsterdam
1971 Police find heroin and marijuana in the possession of The Allman Brothers Band so they are arrested in Jackson, Alabama
2004 Alex Lifeson of Rush is charged with two counts of battery due to an incident in Naples, Florida three months earlier on New Years Eve when he intervened when deputies were escorting his son off of a hotel property. That same day Pete Townshend of the Who admitted in an interview that he had considered suicide after he had been arrested in 2003 for suspicion of child pornography. Pete was later cleared of the charges. Still on that same day Limp Bizkit were forced to cancel a performance in Katowice, Poland due to a bomb threat
2005 Rod Price, guitarist for Foghat, dies at the age of 57 in Wilton, New Hampshire after suffering a heart attack and falling down some stairs
2005 Lullabies To Paralyze by Queens Of The Stone Age is released
2011 Awesome As F**k by Green Day is released
2011 Live In I-5 by Soundgarden is released

March 21, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BULLETBOYS...Bulletboys  (1988)
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


 ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 21
Eddie Money is 64; Roger Hodgson of Supertramp is 63; Conrad Lozano of Los Lobos 62; Andrew Copeland of Sister Hazel is 44;

ON THIS DATE
1961 The Beatles play the Cavern Club in Liverpool, England for the first of many times
1970 First Step by the Faces is released
1976 David Bowie and Iggy Pop are arrested for marijuana possession in New York City
1983 Also in new York City Strawberry Fields in Central Park is opened in memory of John Lennon
1994 "Streets Of Philadelphia" by Bruce Springsteen wins an Oscar for Best Original Score
2007 Paul McCartney signs with Hear music, Starbucks label with Concord Records
2008 A lawsuit is filed by three men accusing Kid Rock of assault and battery and were seeking $15 million

March 20, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
SON VOLT...Honky Tonk (2013)
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 20
Carl Palmer of Emerson, Lake and Palmer is 63; Jimmie Vaughan is 62; Slim Jim Phantom of The Stray Cats is 52; Chester Bennington of Linkin Park is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1968 Eric Clapton along with Buffalo Springfield members Neil Young, Jim Messina and Richie Furay are all arrested for marijuana possession
1969 John Lennon married Yoko Ono in Gibraltar
1970 David Bowie marries Angela Barnett
1977 The last concert ever by T. Rex is performed in Portsmouth, England
1984 On his 23rd birthday Slim Jim Phantom marries Britt Ekland
1990 CBS loses their lawsuit against Tom Scholz of Boston, claiming that the band did not meet their contract terms of 10 albums in 5 years. They still haven't put out 10 albums, makes one wonder how CBS lost
1991 Eric Clapton's son dies tragically at the age of 4 after falling out an apartment window in New York City
2007 Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship is sued by Grace Slick and an ex-manager for breach of contract after Kanter signed a lucrative sponsorship deal involving Microsoft
2009 It is announced that Jimmy Chamberlin is leaving the Smashing Pumpkins

March 19, 2013

 THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD...Last Time Around  (1968)
Last Time Around is the third and final album from Buffalo Springfield, released 45 years ago in 1968, and it reached number 42 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  Another album I had never heard before.  I had always heard that this album wasn't really all that good, but I found it to be pretty good, good enough for a 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.  "The Hour Of Not Quite Rain" was by far the best track with its orchestral arrangement.  Another strong highlight is "Pretty Girl Why" and "Kind Woman," the final track on the record.  I've always thought of Buffalo Springfield as having paved the path for bands like the Eagles with their country-folk-rock sounds.  Of course the Eagles would produce much better albums than this one, but it's worth checking out and I recommend it.
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 19
Zach Lind of Jimmy Eat World is 37;

ON THIS DATE
1946 Paul Atkinson was born in Hertfordshire, England. He would become the keyboardist for the Zombies. He died in 2004 at the age of 58
1957 Elvis Presley purchases Graceland
1974 Jefferson Airplane becomes Jefferson Starship, officially
1975 Dressed To Kill by Kiss is released
1976 Paul Kossoff of Free dies on a flight from Los Angeles to new York at the age of 25. He dies of a drug-induced heart attack
1982 Randy Rhoads dies at the age of 25 in Leesburg, Florida when the plane he was flying clips Ozzy Osbourne's tour bus and then flies into a house
1993 Drummer Jeff Ward commits suicide at the age of 30. Ward had worked with Nine Inch Nails
1996 Anthology II by the Beatles is released
2001 Aerosmith, Paul Simon, Queen, Ritchie Valens, Solomon Burke and Steely Dan are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame

March 18, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY

HOW TO DESTROY ANGELS...Welcome Oblivion  (2013)

Welcome Oblivion was released in 2013 and is currently at number 30 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  How To Destroy Angels consist of Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, his wife Mariqueen Maandig and his longtime collaborator Atticus Ross.  Don't expect a NIN record here, this is a whole new ballgame.  Maandig delivers some really fine vocals throughout the album.  The music is, how should we say, experimental, perhaps avant garde, ambient, maybe weird is a good word.  I didn't hate it, not by any means, but I wasn't exactly entertained, either.  I was surprised that there are actually songs here, not just a bunch of noises thrown together.  I couldn't really name a highlight as the album last more than an hour and at times I found myself anxious for it to end.  I'll only give it a 1 out of 5 stars as it was not my cup of tea. Extra note: after I had finished my review I went to read up on it and it is getting high ratings.  Maybe I just don't get it.
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 18
John Hartman of the Doobie Brothers is 63; Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains is 47;

ON THIS DATE
1947 Procol Harum drummer Barrie James “B.J.” Wilson is born in London. He died in 1990 at the age of 43
1965 Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones are arrested after the 3 are denied use of a men's restroom and they pee on the wall
1975 Tommy, the film by The Who, premieres in New York
1994 Courtney Love calls police stating that her husband, Kurt Cobain, is suicidal, and police confiscate guns and ammo from their home
2002 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and the Talking Heads are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. Also inducted that evening are Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney, Isaac Hayes and the Ramones
2009 Kent Henry, formerly with Steppenwolf, dies in Portland, Oregon. Henry was 60

March 17, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BUDDY HOLLY...Buddy Holly  (1958)
Buddy Holly was released 55 years ago in 1958 and it reached number 3 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  Buddy Holly is known as a rock 'n roll giant.  This album shows how Buddy had a knack for strong melodies and country flavored tunes.  When Buddy tries to really rock, such as in "Ready Teddy," you can hear that the fast heavy rockers should be left up to Elvis and Little Richard.  Other than that this is a wonderful record, which contains the ultimate classics "Peggy Sue" and "Everyday."  The best track on here, by far, is "Mailman, Bring Me No More Blues," I like how Buddy does the "hiccup" vocals on it. "Words Of Love" is another great track which would receive a great cover from the Beatles 7 years later.  Highly recommended with a 3 1/2 stars out of 5
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 17

Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane is 72; Fran Byrne of Ace is 65; Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Supertramp is 62; Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins is 46; Van Conner from Screaming Trees is 46; Melissa Auf der Maur, formerly with Smashing Pumpkins, is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1966 Keith Moon of the Who marries Kim Kerrigan
1967 Grateful Dead by the Grateful Dead is released
1990 Ric Grech of Traffic and Blind Faith dies of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 43
1998 Van Halen 3 by Van Halen is released
2003 Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits breaks a collarbone and 6 ribs in a motorcycle accident in London
2007 At a comic book convention in Los Angeles Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley from Kiss participate in a panel discussion
2008 Paul McCartney's divorce from Heather Mills was settled for $48.6 million

March 16, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
JIMI HENDRIX... People, Hell And Angels  (2013)
People, Hell And Angels was released in 2013 and is currently at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.   The Hendrix estate recently released this collection of tracks, had them cleaned up and remastered and they sound fantastic.  Interesting to note is that most of the tracks have not even been heard by most bootleggers.  This is not the ultimate Hendrix album but it is still a fantastic record, and Jimi's guitar is heard throughout the record. The solo heard in "Hear My Train a Comin'"  is incredible. Check out his guitar work on "Hey Gypsy Boy." One of the more interesting tracks is "Let Me Move You", a funky jam with saxaphone and guitar solos, reminds me of Sly and The Family Stone.  A great version of "Izabella" with a searing guitar solo.  This set is definitely worth your time and is, therefore, highly recommended with a 4 out of 5 stars. 
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 16, 2013
Nancy Wilson of Heart is 59; Jimmy DeGrasso, formerly with Megadeth, is 50; Wolfgang Van Halen of Van Halen is 22;

ON THIS DATE
1975 T Bone Walker dies of pneumonia in Los Angeles. Walker was 64
1999 Who Else by Jeff Beck is released
2004 The Other Side by Godsmack is released
2008 Former lead singer for Bonham, Daniel MacMaster, dies in a hospital in Ontario, Canada of pneumonia. MacMaster was 39
2011 Dave Mustaine of  Megadeth collapses before a show in Russia, but did manage to perform a shortened set.  Turns out he had a kidney stone

March 15, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BUDDY GUY...A Man And The Blues  (1968)
A Man And The Blues was released 45 years ago in 1968.  I will have to give this a 4 out of 5 stars.  I have really enjoyed some of Buddy's recent releases so for today I thought we'd check out one of his classics.  Let me tell you I picked a wonderful album.  I had never heard this record before from this blues legend and I actually was not surprised by how good it is.  The highlights are his version of the "Money (That's What I Want)", "Just Playing My Axe" and "Worry, Worry." Highly recommended.  The other thing that I loved about the record is the sound on it.  The sound quality that was available in '68 was magnificent.  I'm old school, I know, but it works great with all those old records
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 15

Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead is 73; Ry Cooder is 66; Preston Hubbard from the Fabulous Thunderbirds is 60; Dee Snider from Twisted Sister is 58; Bret Michaels from Poison is 50; Mark Hoppus from Blink 182 is 41; Joseph Hahn from Linkin Park is 36;

ON THIS DATE
1968 Jimi Hendrix is "the most spectacular guitarists in the world” according to Life magazine
1999 Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Del Shannon and Dusty Springfield were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2004 Bob Seger, George Harrison and ZZ Top are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. That same day Guns 'N' Roses file a lawsuit against Geffen Records to stop a 'Greatest Hits' type release. The Governors Award from the San Francisco Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) goes to Metallica
2010 Genesis is inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame

March 14, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BRYAN ADAMS...Cuts Like a Knife  (1983)
Cuts Like A Knife, the third album from Bryan Adams, was released 30 years ago in 1983 and it reached number 8 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  This is a very good record and we give it a 4 out of 5 stars.  It had been a very long time since I had heard this album. In fact, with the exception of the 3 popular tracks ("This Time," "Straight From The Heart" and the title track) it was as if I was hearing a new album.  Because of their familiarity those 3 tracks were the highlights but that doesn't take away from the rest of the album.  "What's It Gonna Be" was a catchy rocker while "Don't Leave Me Lonely" had me headbangin'. Adams and producer Bob Clearmountain crafted a true rock 'n' roll album with good songs, Adams powerful vocals and a good mixture of hard rock and cool power ballads.  As I  was getting this review ready I played it twice. I recommend you do the same.
(CD, vinyl)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 14
Michael Bland, currently with Soul Asylum, is 44; Derrick of Jimmie's Chicken Shack is 41;

ON THIS DATE
1964 Billboard magazine reports that the Beatles own 60% of the current music charts
1981 Eric Clapton cancels his U.S. tour after he checks himself into the hospital in St. Paul for bleeding ulcers
1984 Rainbow perform their final concert ever in Japan. Ritchie Blackmore ended the band as he was about to rejoin with Deep Purple
2005 U2, The Pretenders and Buddy Guy are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll hall of Fame
2006 The Rolling Stones play the Radio City Music Hall in New York City for the first time ever. That same day Flying High Again: The World's Greatest Tribute To Ozzy Osbourne is released, featuring Dee Snider, Lemmy Kilmister, Lita Ford, Judas Priest and Whitesnake, among others
2006 Scott Stapp of Creed files a lawsuit in L.A. to block World Wide Red Light District from releasing or promoting a ‘99 sex tape featuring Stapp, Kid Rock and four women
2006 Operation: Mindcrime II by Queensryche is released
2012  Quiet Riot announce their third new lead singer in 18 months.  This one is Scott Vokoun

Who should have the rights to the Queensryche name...Geoff Tate or Michael Wilton?

March 13, 2013

R.I.P. Clive Burr, formerly with Iron Maiden

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN...Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J.  (1973)
Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. was released 40 years ago in 1973 and it reached number 60 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  This is the debut album from 'The Boss.'  The album begins with "Blinded By The Light"written by Bruce, which was a number 1 hit single for Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1976.  Perhaps because I'm more familiar with the Earth Band's version I am not to keen on Springsteen's version.  It seems to just ramble on.  Next is "Growin' Up," which made me immediately think "Ah, this is the Springsteen from the 70's I know." "Mary Queen Of Arkansas" is a folk song which reminded me of Bob Dylan's early albums, but in this case with some good vocals, with an acoustic guitar and harmonica. "Does This Bus Stop At 82nd Street" is a short number describing a bus ride in NYC.  "Lost In the Flood' kinda drags a bit, I was hoping for the ending to come quick.  "The Angel" is an enjoyable track, however the story from the lyrics made me very confused as I couldn't figure out what the story actually is.  "For You" is a cool track, maybe the best on the record, about a girl who tries to commit suicide.  "Spirit In The Night" is another cool track which was also covered by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.  Springsteen's version is definitely better with some great sax from the big man Clarence Clemons.  The final track is "It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City." A fast-paced story about street life for a boy who wants to be good but temptation gets the best of him.  I recommend it with 3 out of 5 stars.  Springsteen had arrived!!
 (CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 13
Adam Clayton from U2 is 53; Matt McDonough from Mudvayne is 44; David Michael Draiman of Disturbed is 40;

ON THIS DATE
1965 Eric Clapton leaves the Yardbirds
1972 The Eagles began recording sessions in London for their first album
2006 Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Blondie are inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame
2007 At a concert that I attended in Tampa, Florida Roger Daltrey of the Who walked off the stage after singing only one verse in the opening song. Pete Townshend then came on stage a few minutes later saying the Roger was very ill and the concert would be rescheduled for a few weeks later
2007 Live at Massey Hall by Neil Young is released

Do you think that U2 is as important or as good as The Beatles? The Rolling Stones? Led Zeppelin?

March 12, 2013

 R.I.P. Peter Banks, formerly with Yes


THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BRUCE HORNSBY AND THE RANGE...Scenes From The Southside  (1988)
Scenes From The Southside was released 25 years ago in 1988 and it reached number 5 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  I'll give it a 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.  Once again I elected for an album that I had never heard before and also was not from our normal classic rock artist that we usually review here.  This is a good pop album and had some enjoyable tunes on it.  What surprised me was that I had heard a few of them before..."Look Out Any Window," "The Valley Road" and "Defenders Of The Flag."  I recommend it if you're in the mood for some adult contemporary listening with some nice songs and soft rock sounds
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 12
Bill Payne from Little Feat is 64; Steve Harris from Iron Maiden is 57; Graham Coxon of Blur is 44; Claudio Sanchez of Coheed And Cambria is 39;

ON THIS DATE
1969 Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in London. That same day George and Pattie Harrison are arrested for possession of cannabis resin
1974 John Lennon and Harry Nilsson are kicked out of a Smother's Brothers show in Los Angeles
2003 The Rolling Stones are told by the Chinese Ministry of Culture what songs of theirs they are NOT allowed to perform while touring their country. They are: “Brown Sugar,” “Honky Tonk Women,” “Beast of Burden” and “Let’s Spend The Night Together”
2007 Van Halen is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame by Slash and Scott Weiland from Velvet Revolver. Eddie Vedder inducted R.E.M.
2012 Michael Hossack of the Doobie Brothers dies in  Dubois, Wyoming after battling cancer.  Hossack was 65
2013 Clive Burr, former drummer of Iron Maiden, dies after losing his battle with multiple sclerosis.  Burr was 56

March 11, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BROWNSVILLE STATION...Yeah  (1973)
Yeah was released 40 years ago in 1973 and it reached number 98 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  Everybody and their momma has heard the huge single release from this album "Smokin' In The Boys Room" (yes, they did this song long before Motley Crue did).  It rocks, for sure.  Other highlights include "Barefootin" and "Take It Or Leave It".  8 of these tracks are covers while the other 2 are originals.  I'll give this a 3 out of 5 stars.  It's a good record, I recommend it.  It's not groundbreaking by any means, it's just a good solid rock album.  Unfortunately, Brownsville Station would never achieve this type of success ever again
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 11
Harvey "The Snake" Mandel of Canned Heat is 68; Mark Stein from Vanilla Fudge is 66; George Kooymans from Golden Earring is 65; Rami Jaffee from The Wallflowers, Foo Fighters, Soul Asylum, Pearl Jam and others is 44; Joel and Benji Madden of Good Charlotte are 34;

ON THIS DATE
1970 At the Grammys: Crosby, Stills And Nash win Best New Artist. They beat out Led Zeppelin
1997 Paul McCartney becomes SIR Paul McCartney as he is knighted by Queen Elizabeth
2004 Aerosmith begin their Honkin' On Bobo North American tour in Houston, with Cheap Trick the opening act
2004 Corey Taylor of Stone Sour and Slipknot marries his fiancee Scarlett in Des Moines, Iowa
2011 Paul Di'Anno, formerly with Iron Maiden, is jailed after being convicted of fraud. Di'Anno claimed he had nerve damage in his back that prevented him from working but is seen in youtube videos jumping around on stage
2013 Vince Neil of Motley Crue undergoes surgery to remove kidney stones in Sydney, Australia after he had to cut short the bands performance the night before

March 10, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
ROD STEWART...Body Wishes  (1983)
Body Wishes was released 30 years ago in 1983 and it reached number 30 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  I'll give this a 2 out of 5 stars.  I give it only the 2 stars because when compared to Rod's previous releases this is a weak album, but yet not to bad at the same time.  First, the album cover is definitely a tribute to the Elvis album 50,000 Elvis Fans Can't be Wrong, both of which are pictured to the left. Second, the album rocks from time to time, but there was definitely the 80's vibe going on a bit to much for us diehard Stewart fans.  The two best tracks are the last 2, "Strangers Again" and "Satisfied." Both numbers are slow ballads which I found to be quite good.  "Move Me" is a cool rocker.  I recommend it but if you're hoping for a rockin' Rod Stewart album catch one of his earlier releases

(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review) 

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 10
Tom Scholz from Boston is 66; Jeff Ament from Pearl Jam is 50; Dave Krusen, formerly with Pearl Jam and Candlebox, is 47; Jerry Horton from Papa Roach is 38; Benjamin Jackson Burnley from Breaking Benjamin is 35; Michael Barnes of Red is 34;

 ON THIS DATE
1973 The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd is released
1984 Deep Purple decide to reunite. Ian Gillian leaves Black Sabbath to participate in the reunion
2003 AC/DC, The Clash, Elvis Costello And The Attractions and The Police are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
2004 The Recording Industry Association of America tells a DJ that he can no longer sell his The Double Black Album, which he created using Metallica's so-called Black Album and a rapper named Jay-Z's The Black Album and mixed them together
2005 Molly Hatchet lead singer Danny Joe Brown dies in Davie, Florida due to complications with diabetes. He was 53
2006 Rock music's Top 30 Moneymakers list is released by Rolling Stone magazine. Top spot: U2 $154.2 million. No. 2, The Rolling Stones, 3. The Eagles, 4. Paul McCartney, 5. Elton John
2008 John Mellencamp is inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame
2009 Scream by Chris Cornell is released
2010 Pink Floyd sues their label EMI over iTunes sales of individual songs. EMI argues that separating the songs only applies to their physical releases
2010 Lawyers for Phil Spector appeal his ’09 murder conviction claiming he didn’t get a fair trail. Spector was sentenced to prison for 19 years to life for shooting actress Lana Clarkson at his California mansion in ‘03
2010  At a Metallica concert in Cambodia fans who could not get tickets riot outside the venue.  Police use tanks and 160 people are arrested
2011  It is announced that Donnie Steele would be replacing the late Paul Gray as  basist for Slipknot.  Steele was a founding member of Slipknot

March 9, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
RUSH...Counterparts  (1993)
Counterparts was released 20 years ago in 1993 and it reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  I'll give it a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars.  This album is pretty cool.  "Stick it Out" is a blazing hot rocker.  Other highlights include "Animate" and "Cold Fire"  My favorite track may be the excellent "Nobody's Hero," a moving track about the HIV virus.  I highly recommend it
(CD,  Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 9
Robin Trower, formerly with Procol Harum, is 68;

ON THIS DATE
1974 Bad Company play their first show ever in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
1987 The Joshua Tree by U2 is released
1995 Oasis make their U.S. network T.V. debut on Late Night With David Letterman
2007 Brad Delp of Boston is found dead in his home in Atkinson, New Hampshire. He was 55. His family later stated that Delp had committed suicide. That same day Gene Simmons and Tommy Thayer from Kiss play at Camp Pendleton in California
2010 Valleys Of Neptune by Jimi Hendrix is released

March 8, 2013

 THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
THE WHO...Who Are You  (1978)
Who Are You was released 35 years ago in 1978 and reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard album charts (as popular as The Who have always been they've never had a number 1 album).  I give this record a 4 1/2 out 5 stars.  First off, it has the very catchy very crafty rocking title track "Who Are You."  Other highlights include "Sister Disco" and "Guitar And Pen."  This was also the last album the band would record with  Keith Moon.  Highly recommended
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 8
Mickey Dolenz from the Monkees is 68; Randy Meisner, formerly with the Eagles, is 67;

ON THIS DATE
1948 Mel Galley of Whitesnake was born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England. Galley died in 2008
1957 Clive Burr, who would be the original drummer for Iron Maiden, is born in East ham, London, England. Burr died in 2013
1968 Big Brother and the Holding Company, Albert King and Tim Buckley perform the first concert ever at the Fillmore East
1973 Paul McCartney pleads guilty to growing marijuana on his farm in Scotland
1973 Ron “Pigpen” McKernan of the Grateful Dead dies in Corte Madera, California. McKernan was 27
1975 The Rolling Stones announce that Wayne Perkins will be replacing Mick Taylor as guitarist. Perkins played on a few tracks on the Black And Blue album, but was soon replaced by Ron Wood
1977 Foreigner by Foreigner is released
1994 The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails is released
1994 Superunknown by Soundgarden is released
2006 Tahoe Wabo in Nevada, owned by Sammy Hagar, is named as one of the Top 100 bars and clubs in the United States by the editors of Nightclub And Bar magazine
2007 Eddie Van Halen enters rehab, which causes him to miss the induction of Van Halen into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame
2011 Collapse Into Now by R.E.M. is released
2011 Mike Starr, formerly with Alice In Chains, dies in Salt Lake City, Utah. Starr was 44
2013 Peter Banks, formerly with Yes, dies in London of heart failure.  Banks was 65

March 7, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
THE ROLLING STONES...Goats Head Soup  (1973)
Goats Head Soup was released 40 years ago in 1973 and reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  I give this a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  It is a great album.  Some folks feel like this was the first album of theirs that started their decline of not-so-good records, as their previous album was the much loved Exile On Main Street.  I, for one, disagree with this assessment, as the band was to release some excellent albums in the future.  Goats Head Soup has some great tracks on it, with the highlights being "Angie" (a brilliant track),  "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" and "Dancing With Mr. D." Highly recommended.
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 7
Chris White from The Zombies is 70; Peter Wolf of the J. Geils Band is 67; Matthew Fisher from Procol Harum is 67; Randy Guss from Toad the Wet Sprocket is 46; Hugo Ferreira from Tantric is 39;

ON THIS DATE
2007 The National Association of Recording Merchandisers Definitive 200 list of best albums is released. In the Top 10 are albums by Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, U2, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan. At number 1: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the Beatles
2007 In Spokane, Washington John Popper from the Blues Traveler is arrested after he was caught speeding at 111 mph. Guns and marijuana are found in the vehicle
2008 ZZ Top is awarded the AMD Live! Soundtrack Award at the Austin Film Society's annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards
2012  A class action suit filing reveals that Sony will pay $7.95 million to Cheap Trick, the Allman Brothers Band and others, to end a five-year dispute over digital music revenue. Most of the settlement goes to artists who have a minimum of 28,500 downloads from Apple's iTunes store

March 6, 2013

R.I.P. Alvin Lee

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
KISS...Lick It Up  (1983)
Lick It Up was released 30 years ago in 1983 and reached number 24 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  I'll give it a 4 out of 5 stars.  With the exception of the horrendous track "Gimme More" this is a rockin' album.  It has 2 exceptional tracks "Young And Wasted" and "A Million To One".  Another highlight is "Not For The Innocent." I definitely recommend it
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 6
Hugh Grundy from The Zombies and Argent is 68; David Gilmour from Pink Floyd is 67; Chris Broderick of Megadeth is 43; Bob Zilla of Hellyeah is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1973 The U.S. Immigration Department cancel John Lennon's visa, starting a 2 year legal battle which Lennon eventually wins
1990 Aerosmith is inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Walk on Sunset Boulevard
2000 Eric Clapton is inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame as a solo artist. It's his third time being inducted, the others as a Yardbird and a member of Cream. Bonnie Raitt and Scotty Moore are also inducted
2004 David Crosby is arrested on marijuana and gun possession charges in New York City. Crosby has served time in prison in Texas for a similar arrest
2006 On An Island by David Gilmour is released
2007 Heaven And Hell begin their world tour in Vancouver, Canada
2007 Jimi Hendrix's estate files a lawsuit against Electric Hendrix for copyright infringement. The owners of Electric Hendrix are Jimi's brother Leon and Jimi's drummer Buddy Miles. Also, that same day, Librarian of Congress adds "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones to the '06 National Recording Registry. ZZ Top begins their U.S. tour in Biloxi, Mississippi
2013  Alvin Lee, formerly with Ten Years After, died from  "unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure."  Lee was 68.

March 5, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BROTHER CANE...Brother Cane  (1993)
Brother Cane was released 20 years ago in 1993 and did not chart on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  I'll give it a 2 1/2 out of 3 stars.  Brother Cane is a hard rock band from Birmingham, Alabama, and this is their debut album.  I'm surprised they didn't make it bigger as this album rocks pretty good.  They remind me somewhat of the Black Crowes, same type of vocals, same type of playing.  The opening track "Got No Shame" is an awesome track, with some addictive riff-roaring guitar.  Another highlight is "That Don't Satisfy Me" and the albums final track is a pretty cool ballad called "Make Your Play".  To bad they didn't achieve more success as the band would only release two more albums.  I recommend it, if you like good rock n roll you'll like this one
(CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 5
Alan Clark from Dire Straits is 61; John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers is 43;

ON THIS DATE
1960 Elvis Presley is discharged from the Army
1963 The Beatles record "From Me To You"
1977 The Rolling Stones perform in a nightclub in Toronto, and some of those tracks ended up on Love You Live
2002 "The Osbournes" premieres on MTV
2004 Todd Harrell of 3 Doors Down is arrested in Moss Point, Mississippi after allegedly assaulting a newspaper carrier who accused him of stealing papers from a coin-operated vending machine
2008 Scott Weiland, formerly of the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver, pleads not guilty of driving under the influence of drugs when he was arrested on a Los Angeles freeway on-ramp the previous November
2009 Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix file a trademark-infringement lawsuit in a federal court in Seattle charging the Las Vegas-based HendrixLicensing.com with selling unauthorized Hendrix-branded merchandise
2013  People, Hell And Angels by Jimi Hendrix is released

March 4, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BRIAN MAY AND FRIENDS...Star Fleet Project  (1983)
Star Fleet Project was released 30 years ago in 1983 and it reached number 125 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  This is actually an EP containing only 3 songs.  Brian May, lead guitarist for Queen, invited Mr. Eddie Van Halen to riff with him on the record, along with bass player Phil Chen, who had done some work with Rod Stewart, and the drums were handled by Alan Gratzer, drummer for REO Speedwagon.  With that lineup how could you lose, right?  Well, it could have been much better, especially by the fact that it's not a full album.  The 3 songs are pretty good, especially "Blues Breaker".  I recommend it with a 2 1/2 out of 5 and should be included in classic rock lovers collections
(vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 4
Chris Squire from Yes is 65; Chris Rea is 62; Jason Newsted, formerly with Metallica, is 50; Evan Dando of Lemonheads is 46; Fergal Lawler of The Cranberries is 42;

ON THIS DATE
1966 John Lennon made his remark to a reporter about how “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. We’re more popular than Jesus right now”
1970 Janis Joplin is fined $200 for swearing onstage at a concert in Tampa
1971 The Rolling Stones announce that they will be moving to France due to too much tax in Great Britain
1973 Pink Floyd begin their U.S. tour supporting their latest album Dark Side Of The Moon
1986 Richard Manuel from The Band hangs himself in a hotel room in Winter Park, Florida. He was 42
2006 Aerosmith has to cancel several concerts as Steven Tyler has strained his vocal chords
2008 Warpaint by the Black Crowes is released
2011 Courtney Love of Hole settles a lawsuit and agrees to pay $430,000 to clothing designer Dawn Simorangkir for a series of attacks via Twitter
2011 Detroit members of the NAACP protest the organization's plans to give their Great Expectations Award to Kid Rock because he uses the Confederate flag in his shows

March 3, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
LED ZEPPELIN...Celebration Day  (2012)
Celebration Day was released last year and reached number 9 on the U.S. Billboard album charts.  It should have reached number 1, and I'll give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  It is an absolutely fun live recording.  The band sounded like they had never been apart.  By the way, since the breakup of Led Zeppelin 2 or all 3 have done several projects together over the years so it wasn't this unbelievable reunion that happened, but it was a great evening.  Robert still has quite a bit of his vocal range, and of course Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham rocked the house down.  I highly recommend it.  The highlight is "Kashmir".  
(CD/blu-ray/DVD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 3
Robyn Hitchcock is 60; John Lilley of the Hooters is 59; Blower (aka Joe Garvey) of Hinder is 29;

ON THIS DATE
1966 The Rolling Stones begin recording session in Hollywood for what would become Aftermath
1967 With Rod Stewart and Ron Wood the Jeff Beck Group make their debut in London
1978 In Chicago Van Halen begin their first U.S. tour
1983 Before the U.S. Senate a member of the motorcycle gang Hell's Angels testifies that the organization has a beef with Mick Jagger due to the Altamont incident in 1969. There evidently were two murder attempts on Jagger's life
1986 Masters Of Puppets by Metallica is released
1994 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana lapses into a coma because of a combination of valium and champagne and is rushed into a hospital in Rome
1995 Bill Berry of R.E.M. has surgery for a brain aneurysm
2005 Motley Crue appears on Live With Regis and Kelly
2006 Axl Rose files a counter-suit against Slash. Both want the copyright for Guns 'N' Roses
2008 Norman "Hurricane" Smith dies at the age of 86. Smith worked on several Beatles and Pink Floyd albums
2008 Kid Rock pleads not guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge after being arrested five months earlier at a Waffle House in Atlanta
2009 No Line On The Horizon by U2 is released
2009 American Soldier by Queensryche is released
2012 Ronnie Montrose of Montrose dies at the age of 64

March 2, 2013

THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BOSTON...Don't Look Back  (1978)
Don't Look Back was released 35 years ago in 1978 and it reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Album Charts.  I'll give it a 4 out of 5 stars and is highly recommended.  Boston did fall into the envious but yet dreadful trap of having to try and match and/or meet the expectations of their previous HUGE hit album Boston, their debut.  Sales and the quality of Don't Look Back do not match those of Boston but that takes nothing away from this record.  It is quite good.  In my opinion the opening title track is better than anything on Boston.  The guitar riffs are fantastic.  "Feelin' Satisfied" and "Party" are also some very cool highlights.  Pull your old record out and enjoy it again, today
(CD, vinyl, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 2
Lou Reed is 71; Eddie Money is 64; Mark Evans from AC/DC is 57; Jon Bon Jovi is 51; Casey of Jimmie's Chicken Shack is 37; Chris Martin of Coldplay is 36;

ON THIS DATE
1964 The Beatles began filming A Hard Day's Night
1988 At The Grammys: U2 wins two for The Joshua Tree
1996 Congratulations, I'm Sorry by the Gin Blossoms is released
2004 Metallica and Godsmack begin their "Madly In Anger Tour"
2005 Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit files an $80 million invasion of privacy lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against several online media companies that hosted an illicit homemade sex video
2006 Paul McCartney opposses the opening of seal hunting season in Canada
2006 The woman who is in the sex video with Scott Stapp of Creed and Kid Rock files an invasion of privacy lawsuit against Stapp
2008 Jeff Healey passes away due to retinoblastoma in Toronto. Healey was 41
2010 Smoke And Mirrors by Lifehouse is released
2010 Scratch My Back by Peter Gabriel is released

March 1, 2013

 THE ALBUM OF THE DAY
BUCKCHERRY...Confessions  (2013)
(CD, Allmusic review)


ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR MARCH 1
Mike D'Abo from Manfred Mann is 69; Roger Daltrey of the Who is 69; Bill Leen from the Gin Blossoms is 51; Ryan Peake from Nickelback is 40; Sean Woolstenhulme from Lifehouse is 32;

ON THIS DATE
1958 Buddy Holly begins a tour of the U.K., the only one he would do
1966 Gene Clark quits the Byrds
1967 The Animals refuse to perform a concert in Ottawa because they want to be paid in advance. They are not so therefore the show is cancelled and a riot ensues, causing thousands of dollars in damage to the arena
1969 Jim Morrison of The Doors supposedly exposes himself at a concert in Miami. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't, but he was later arrested for profanity and lewd behavior
1982 Death Wish II soundtrack by Jimmy Page is released
1994 The last show ever for Nirvana is in Munich, Germany. Also that same day at the Grammys: Soul Asylum - "Runaway Train" Best Rock Song, Ozzy Osbourne - "I Don't Want To Change The World" Best Metal Performance
1995 At the Grammys: Bruce Springsteen - "Streets Of Philadelphia" Song Of The Year, Soundgarden - "Black Hole Sun" Best Hard Rock Performance, Spoonman Best Metal Performance, Melissa Etheridge - "Come To My Window" Best Rock Performance-Female. That same evening R.E.M.'s drummer, Bill Berry, suffers a brain aneurysm and has to leave the stage.
2005 The Jimi Hendrix estate wins another court battle as they stop Purple Haze Records from selling a bootleg concert from 1969.
2008 Linkin Park has to cancel shows in Albuquerque and El Paso after Chester Bennington has a respiratory infection