Thursday, October 12, 2023

Thursday This And That

Donald Fagen / Steely Dan (these days, they’re one and the same) was hospitalized and had to miss several shows opening for The Eagles.  Filling in for a few dates were Sheryl Crow and then Steve Miller … and at the upcoming Pittsburgh show, Vince Gill will kick things off with a solo performance … and then join The Eagles on stage for the rest of the show! 

No real specifics have come forward as to just what was ailing Fagen … and rumors say the five members of The Eagles’ road crew tested positive for Covid … but the shows thus far have gone on as planned (short of the aforementioned modifications.)

As of right now, Fagen is expected to next take the stage on Thursday, November 2nd, when The Eagles and Steely Dan perform in Atlanta.  (kk)

Nancy Wilson made a surprise appearance at her sister Ann’s concert at The Ruth Finley Person Theatre in Santa Rosa, California, this past Tuesday Night (10/10.)  They performed Heart’s 1977 #11 Hit “Barracuda.”  It marked the first time that the Heart Sisters have performed on stage together since 2019.

I will admit that a Heart Reunion Tour would make my bucket list … I have always enjoyed their music but have never had the chance to see them perform live.  (We did see Ann Wilson perform a solo show at The Arcada Theatre a few years ago, which was taped for a PBS Soundstage Television Special … but honestly, it was quite a disappointment.  While Ann did perform a couple of Heart songs that night, they were completely revamped and didn’t sound anything at all like the originals.  It was as if she was going as far out of her way as possible to distance herself from the music that made The Wilson Sisters household names in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s.) 

Between 1976 and 1994, Heart notched twenty Billboard Top 40 Hits, including two #1’s:  “These Dreams” in 1986 and “Alone” in 1987.  (My personal favorite Heart single, “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You,” reached #1 in Cash Box Magazine, but peaked at #2 in Billboard.)

The two have reportedly been recording new music together again … but no plans for a reunion tour has been announced as of yet.  (They certainly have had their differences over the years!)  But, to quote another one of their big hits, “Never” say never.  (kk)

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/04/ann-wilson-concert-review.html

The actual tour bus (now fully restored to all its original splendor) used by Paul McCartney and Wings during their 1972 Wings Over Europe Tour is going up for auction.

The double-decker bus itself is a 1953 Bristol KSW.  Dubbed WNO 481, the bus was purchased by the McCartneys for the band’s first major tour of Europe, during which time they put 7500 miles on the vehicle while traveling through nine countries, including France, Germany, Belgium, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

The original bus was painted with psychedelic artwork by artist Geoffrey Cleghorn, who modeled its design and color scheme after the styling of The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” album cover … a traveling magic bus of love and peace.

It was designed to accommodate “family living” as the band members (then consisting of, in addition to Paul and Linda, Denny Laine, drummer Denny Seiwell and guitarist Henry McCullough) brought their wives and children with them on tour.  As such, it was equipped with bunk beds and even a playpen, which was installed on the top deck.  Mattresses, beanbags and blankets were also onboard, allowing the band members and their families to lie out in the sun during warm summer days.


TT New Agency / Alamy Stock Photos

It is expected to fetch upwards of $250,000 - $300,000.

Interested?

Here are all the details …

JULIEN’S AUCTIONS PUBLIC EXHIBITIONS

London: Hard Rock Cafe Piccadilly Circus
Criterion Building,
225-229 Piccadilly
London W1J 9HR
Tuesday, October 17th – Sunday, October 22nd
Daily: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time
Free to the Public

New York: Hard Rock Cafe New York
1501 Broadway – Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Monday, November 6th – Saturday, November 11th
Daily: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Free to the Public

Nashville: Hard Rock Cafe Nashville
100 Broadway
Nashville, TN, 37201
Monday, November 13th – Friday, November 17th
Daily: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. Central Time
Free to the Public

LIVE AND ONLINE AUCTION

“Played, Worn, & Torn: Rock ‘N’ Roll Iconic Guitars And Memorabilia”

Thursday, November 16th
Session I : 7:00 p.m. Central Time (evening)

“Played, Worn, & Torn: Rock ‘N’ Roll Iconic Guitars And Memorabilia”

Friday, November 17th
Session II: 10:00 a.m. Central Time (day)

Saturday, November 18th

Session III:  10:00 am Central Time (day)

REGISTER TO BID

Registration is required to bid in this online auction and can be done in person at the exhibition or online before the sale at the JuliensAuctions.com Registration Page.

Bid by phone, proxy or in person, or live online at JuliensLive.com

For inquiries, please email info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818

Also up for auction:  Over 1000 other desirable collectibles, including Elvis Presley’s 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V, John Lennon’s Wurlitzer Model 1015 Juke Box from The Dakota, Maurice Gibb’s Studio-Used and Stage-Played 1970 Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack and Touring Rickenbacker Guitar, Eric Clapton’s “The Fool” Guitar


Kurt Cobain’s stage-played and smashed cream Fender Stratocaster “Sky Stang I” guitar, The World’s Finest Vintage Guitar Collection featuring a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard Starburst, 1959 Gibson ES 335 Blond “Dot,” 1954 Fender Stratocaster and Blonde 1958 “May Kaye” Fender Stratocaster, Eddie Van Halen’s personally striped and stage-played “Stealth” Charvel Guitar, property from the Estate of Frank Zappa, property from the Estate of Dee Dee Ramone, artifacts from The Beatles, The Who, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Albert King, Pete Townshend, Dolly Parton, Sinead O’Connor, Prince, Michael Jackson, Slash, Metallica, The Sex Pistols and more.

As we approach the 60th Anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Ultimate Classic Rock ran this fascinating story about Robbie Robertson of The Band (then The Hawks) playing at Jack Ruby’s nightclub down in Fort Worth, Texas, right around this same time.

You’ve got to check this out … 

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/robbie-robertson-jack-ruby-nightclub/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ugh&utm_term=UCR

Kent:

Had I known that Forgotten Hits Royalty, East Coast Correspondent Shelley Sweet-Tufano, was going to be attending the same concert as me in Tarrytown, NY, featuring the Association and the Grass Roots, I would have made arrangements to say hi!

As they say ... so close, but so far away.

I also could have provided the attached picture to her review of the Grass Roots current lead singer Mark Dawson.  And although Mark has huge Rob Grill boots to fill, I thought he did an outstanding job.

-Tom Cuddy

New York, NY



I’ve known Mark for several years and I think he and the guys do an outstanding job of keeping this great Grass Roots music alive.  (We actually went to different high schools together … long story!)

Anyway, after reading Shelley’s review, I had Alexia serenade me to sleep with Grass Roots music the other night!  I pretty much love ALL of their stuff!  (kk)

 

You can add Leo Sayer to the list of ailing rock stars.

Leo has recently been hospitalized for what he is describing as “kidney, bladder and prostate complications.”

Sayer got married earlier this year but then had to postpone concert appearances due to these recent health issues. Hopefully he is on the road to recovery and will be back out there again real soon.  (kk)

Our FH Buddy Harvey Kubernik was one of the featured speakers at The Grammy Museum’s special screening of “The Last Waltz”

The GRAMMY Museum was thrilled to host a special screening of THE LAST WALTZ in celebration of its 45th Anniversary, followed by a post-screening panel moderated by journalist Pamela Chelin with Olivier Chastan (CEO of Iconoclast), Mark Pinkus (President of Rhino Records), and Harvey Kubernik (author and music historian.)

You’ll find photos from this event here:  https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/harvey-kubernik-speaks-onstage-at-reel-to-reel-the-last-news-photo/1719890477

Baseball great Steve Garvey has thrown his hat in the ring and is running for the US Senate.

Garvey, who had a stellar career with both The Los Angeles Dodgers and The San Diego Padre, enters the race as a Republican.  (If he wins the seat, he’d be the first Republican to do so in The State of California since 1988!)

Steve played Major League Baseball for 19 seasons and was a 10-time All Star.  In 1974, he was The National League’s MVP.  (kk)

Bruno Mars was forced to cancel his gig this weekend in Tel Aviv due to the desecration going on in Israel right now.  It was for his own safety that he was asked to leave the country, despite a sell out of Saturday Night’s show at HaYarkon Park.  (The only two other acts to sell out this theater were Madonna and Michael Jackson … and Mars sold it out for TWO nights!)

Meanwhile, *NSync’s comeback single from the new Trolls movie became the groups’ first Hot 100 Hit in over twenty years, debuting this past week at #25.  (Not quite the blockbuster hit fans were expecting.)  Justin Timberlake had previously announced that he’d have some new music and a tour coming soon … so any long term reunion seems pretty unlikely at this point.  (kk)

Has anyone ever heard of this author?  I have not, which seems odd.  Yesterday, I emailed him about the book.  Haven't heard back yet.  Apparently, he’s a prof at Auburn U.  Just seems odd that I have never heard of this guy. 

It’s a pretty high price for this book in paperback, so just wondering if anyone knows this man and if he really IS a big fan of the music/radio of Chicago this much.  If so, it would be cool to know him!

I don’t mind plugging this book, as looks like a great theme, but wonder who he is in relation to his subject matter.  Ideas???

https://www.amazon.com/Chicagoland-45-RPM-Mid-1960s-Midwest/dp/1476669821/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1696864353&refinements=p_27%3AGeorge+Plasketes&s=books&sr=1-1&text=George+Plasketes

Clark Besch

What’s he going to tell you that you don’t already know?

In fact, a fully illustrated Clark Besch book would blow this thing away!

With all the original newspaper clippings and memorabilia in your collection, I’d be far more inclined to pick up a copy of THAT!!!  (This one doesn’t even give you a preview of what’s in it!)

You’re retired -

You should go for it!!!

(But even if you ever do, I’d still want a free autographed copy!)  lol  (kk)

 

More from the Biondi Parade … well, actually, it was The Columbus Day Parade / Indigenous People Day / Italian Heritage Day Parade … but naturally WE were focused on the Dick Biondi float, promoting Pam Pulice’s new film!

 

Team Biondi had a blast being part of the 71st Annual Columbus Day Parade, thanks to the JCCIA and President Ron Onesti. Our float, sponsored by Midway Dodge, paid tribute to Dick Biondi, featuring Jim Peterik and The Ides Of March. Despite the chilly weather, the day was crystal clear, and our spirits soared with the cheers from the crowds along State Street, the fantastic music, and the sight of Italian flags waving proudly. ABC7 even broadcasted the parade live!

A special shoutout to singer Tony Bennet, who was also honored, with his daughter Antonia Bennett as the Honorary Grand Marshal. Huge applause to Ron Onesti, Vito D'Ambrosio, the JCCIA, the IAET, and all the amazing participants who made this event unforgettable, including the best team ever.

Pam

 






These photos are so cool!  Made me dig out one from 50 years ago on St. Patties Day!  IF I’m not mistaken, left to right on float:  Robert E Lee, Ron Britain (cup in mouth), Jim Stagg, Clark Weber (back to us), Yvonne Daniels (?), (blond woman unknown), Paul Christie (behind flag) and Barney Pip (kneeling).  Dick Biondi is listed on float, but I dont see him, unfortunately.

HIP HIP HOORAY!!!  Talk about "A Mass of Class!"

Clark

 

 

(See ... there's some of that Chicago Music Scene memorabilia I was talkin' about!!!  lol)  kk