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