THE FRIDAY FLASH

Looks like The Rolling Stones are cooking up another surprise announcement.

Posters for “The Cockroaches” started appearing all around London on Thursday (4/2) offering a special QR code which, when scanned, took you to a new website called thecockroaches.com, where upon entry, users are presented with a visual recreation of a 1970s bedroom, cluttered with any number of era-specific items including guitar plectrums, concert tickets, and vinyl records such as Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie. A clock in the room is frozen at 1:41 pm on Saturday, April 11th, 2026, which many observers believe is the definitive date for an announcement about a brand new Stones release or a secret performance. The link also states the website’s privacy policy, which redirects the user to the Universal Music Group portal, the parent organization for the band’s label. Furthermore, the sign-up graphic “Who the Fuck Are The Cockroaches?” uses the exact typeface and design from the iconic t-shirt worn by Keith Richards in the mid-seventies, which originally asked “Who the Fuck is Mick Jagger?” 

According to Noise 11's Paul Cashmere, The Stones have used “The Cockroaches” name before, most notably in March of 1977 when the band performed two surprise shows at the El Mocambo club in Toronto, Canada. Playing to a tiny audience of just 300 people, the recordings from those nights eventually became the live album El Mocambo, 1977, which was finally released 45 years later in 2022. They also once promoted a secret show at the 350-seat Sir Morgan’s Cove in Massachusets, which was promoted as an appearance by Blue Sunday And The Cockroaches in September, 1981.

They did a similar subtle release notice for their 2023 album “Hackney Diamonds.”  We already know enough material was recorded at the time for a second album … and they have been teasing it ever since.  (Earlier this year they announced that a 2026 tour was not in the offering due to scheduling conflicts within the band … but a couple of surprise club dates back home in Jolly Old England just may better fit their collective schedules.  Then again, I suppose it could all be part of an elaborate April Fool’s joke!

I guess we’ll all have to wait until 1:41 pm London time (or 8:41 am here in Chicago) on Saturday to find out! (kk)

Time is running out to vote for your selections for The Class Of 2026 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame … get your votes in before the window closes.

As of 5 am Central Time, earlier this morning on April 3rd, 2026, NINE artists now have over half a million votes each … with one other closing in quickly.  Here is how the leaders stand at this point in time:

#1 - New Edition - 994,045 votes

#2 - Phil Collins - 877,027

#3 - P!NK - 83-,660

#4 - Luther Vandross - 712,701

#5 – Shakira - 690,774

#6 – INXS - 627,108

#7 – Sade - 606,159

#8 - Wu-Tang Clan - 593,552

#9 - Billy Idol - 583,328

#10 - Mariah Carey  490,806

As you look at this list, ask yourself, “WHO on this list is TRULY worthy of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction?”  And then, if you can come up with anybody, head on over to the Fan Vote and cast your ballot.

https://vote.rockhall.com/ 

Yes, I voted this year … I mean they have to induct SOMEBODY, right?!?! ... but if I ask myself that same question … and weigh it against which of these artists measure up to the TRUE Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers who changed the face of music forever, I’m hard pressed to justify a single one!  (kk)

Lindsey Buckingham (who’s not really particularly in the limelight anymore these days) was apparently attacked by a stalker on March 25^th.  The 54 year old woman threw something at him (described as an “unknown substance”) and then fled the scene.

Buckingham has been aware of this woman for some time … and even placed a restraining order against her for “years of stalking and harassment.”  Authorities are pursuing the matter.  (kk)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSXu44qA_Io&t=38s 

 

Watch for a brand new Sunday Comments Page this week on, well, SUNDAY!!!

 

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

4/3/66 – Pitcher Tom Seaver signs with The New York Mets (for a reported $50,000 signing bonus) 

April 2nd, 1966

Chicago's own Shadows Of Knight hit the #1 spot on The WLS Silver Dollar Survey

And they're not the only ones ...

You'll see that The New Colony Six are back at #25 with their second release, "I Lie Awake" ...

And The Buckinghams make their first chart appearance with their cover of the  James Brown tune "I'll Go Crazy."

Although neither of these two records will even crack Billboard's Hot 100, "Gloria" will go on to become a national Top Ten Hit.

(It was inspired by a comment that WLS disc jockey Clark Weber made after hearing the original Van Morrison / Them version ... 

"If somebody can record a 'cleaner' version of this song, it could be a #1 hit."  The Shadows Of Knight's manager Bill Trout heard the comment, took it to his band and had them work up and record a new version that same night.  Trout then delivered the new master to Clark Weber the following morning and Clark put it on the air.  It was an immediate hit ... and it's still loved and highly regarded today.)

Some 46 years later, Forgotten Hits Readers voted The Shadows Of Knight and "Gloria" as their All-Time Garage Band Favorite! 

https://fhgaragebands.blogspot.com/ 

(You'll find The New Colony Six, The Buckinghams, The Cryan' Shames and The Ides Of March on that list as well!) 

April 1st, 1966

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

4/1/66 – The Troggs record “Wild Thing,” which goes on to become a HUGE worldwide hit.  (We just ran a tribute to the song's writer, Chip Taylor, who passed away last week.)

Also on 4/1, John Lennon bought a copy of the book “The Psychedelic Experience and The Tibetan Book Of The Dead” by Timothy Leary.   

A line in the book’s introduction, "When in doubt, relax, turn off your mind, float downstream" inspired him to write the song “Tomorrow Never Knows” (originally titled “The Void”) which The Beatles recorded five days later for their “Revolver” album.

John told producer George Martin that he wanted it to sound like a thousand Monks chanting in the background.  I don’t know that they achieved that … but they certainly DID create a unique sound that makes the record.

 

Also on 4/1, the last original episode of "The Flintstones" aired on ABC.

The prime time animated series (the first in television history) launched in September of 1960 and aired 166 episodes during its six season run.  It's a poorly kept secret that the series was originally inspired by "The Honeymooners."

The program was an immediate success, coming in at #18 in the annual ratings.  It was even nominated for a Best Comedy Series Emmy, another first for an animated program.