BIONDI BASH:
Man, it was GREAT to see SO many people out for this fund-raising event.
Man, it was GREAT to see SO many people out for this fund-raising event.
I got the chance to visit with at least two dozen Forgotten Hits Readers … plus spend some time with several of the entertainers, including Carl Giammarese of The Buckinghams, special guest star Dennis Tufano, original lead singer of The Buckinghams (these guys sang a number of the band’s hits together … and it was outstanding … the crowd really loved it … in addition to Dennis performing “Mack The Knife” from his Bobby Darin show), The New Colony Six (got to talk to Ray, Greg, Bruce and Rick), film producer Pam Pulice, deejay and host master Scott Mackay (who gave us a shout-out from the stage), Ron Onesti (who really upped the ante during the silent auction, generating much more money to be applied toward the completion of the film), Media Guro Joe Farina, Scott May and Jim Peterik of The Ides of March, Stage Manager Dean Milano, former deejays Scott Childers and Bob Sirott … seeing “Jay #3” (Jay Reincke from Jay and the Americans) reunited with The Meteors and performing once again ala Johnny Star … it was just a fun-filled afternoon of entertainment all the way around.
Let’s hope this final round gets it done so Pam can finish up her Biondi documentary … EVERYBODY there is anxious to see it!!!
Thanks again to everybody for coming out … it is very much appreciated. (kk)
Man, I'm still rockin' from today's "rock 'n roll party" at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park.
What a great show. Major kudos to Pam and Company for putting together one of the best rock shows in quite some time.
NC6, Tufano and Giammarese, Jim Peterik, Ted Aliota, The Hundred Dollar Quartet, Ron Onesti, Bob Sirott, Joe Farina, Scott Childers, Scott McKay and others I can't recall. Great, loud music, excellent buffet, and just plain fun.
Good to finally meet you, Kent!
Mike Wolstein
And you as well. It was a rockin’ good time … and a great chance to hob-knob with some Chicago Rock Royalty. And hopefully we have now raised enough money to FINALLY get this film completed and out there for everyone to see and enjoy. (kk)
CHET COPPOCK:
A memorial service was held yesterday for Chet Coppock, returning home where he’ll call Chicago his final resting place.
The ceremony took place just a day before what would have been Chet’s 71st birthday. Both of his children spoke (through some very emotional tears) as did several celebrities who knew and worked with Chet for decades, all of whom kept the service very warm and light-hearted as they shared humorous anecdotes about the man they knew so well through all these years.
It was important to Chet that his final service be a celebration of his life … and not a mourning of his death. The circumstances of his death made this a little bit harder to deal with … Chet having died as a result of injuries he sustained as the passenger in a serious car accident … a horrible way to go for a guy who lived life to the fullest every step of the way, no matter what kind of circumstances were thrown at him.
A couple of speakers mentioned that Chet felt he had served a purposeful life with his family, helping to raise two fine children who were capable of standing up on their own two feet by this point. (His daughter Lyndsey had just gotten married a few weeks before the accident … thankfully, Chet was able to be there for the ceremony.) As such, he felt that whenever his number was up, they would be prepared for life without him … and he was comfortable in his own heart and mind with this setting.
Mark Giangreco talked of Chet mentoring him early in his career, eventually turning over the reigns to him at NBC after he was fired from the station. Other speakers included friends and business partners like David Abrams, Bruce Levine, John McDonough and Jackie Meyers Thompson … and celebrities such as Bob Sirott and hockey greats Bobby Hull and Dennis Savard were in attendance on what proved to be a horribly sloppy and rainy day.
Let’s hope this final round gets it done so Pam can finish up her Biondi documentary … EVERYBODY there is anxious to see it!!!
Thanks again to everybody for coming out … it is very much appreciated. (kk)
Man, I'm still rockin' from today's "rock 'n roll party" at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park.
What a great show. Major kudos to Pam and Company for putting together one of the best rock shows in quite some time.
NC6, Tufano and Giammarese, Jim Peterik, Ted Aliota, The Hundred Dollar Quartet, Ron Onesti, Bob Sirott, Joe Farina, Scott Childers, Scott McKay and others I can't recall. Great, loud music, excellent buffet, and just plain fun.
Good to finally meet you, Kent!
Mike Wolstein
And you as well. It was a rockin’ good time … and a great chance to hob-knob with some Chicago Rock Royalty. And hopefully we have now raised enough money to FINALLY get this film completed and out there for everyone to see and enjoy. (kk)
CHET COPPOCK:
A memorial service was held yesterday for Chet Coppock, returning home where he’ll call Chicago his final resting place.
The ceremony took place just a day before what would have been Chet’s 71st birthday. Both of his children spoke (through some very emotional tears) as did several celebrities who knew and worked with Chet for decades, all of whom kept the service very warm and light-hearted as they shared humorous anecdotes about the man they knew so well through all these years.
It was important to Chet that his final service be a celebration of his life … and not a mourning of his death. The circumstances of his death made this a little bit harder to deal with … Chet having died as a result of injuries he sustained as the passenger in a serious car accident … a horrible way to go for a guy who lived life to the fullest every step of the way, no matter what kind of circumstances were thrown at him.
A couple of speakers mentioned that Chet felt he had served a purposeful life with his family, helping to raise two fine children who were capable of standing up on their own two feet by this point. (His daughter Lyndsey had just gotten married a few weeks before the accident … thankfully, Chet was able to be there for the ceremony.) As such, he felt that whenever his number was up, they would be prepared for life without him … and he was comfortable in his own heart and mind with this setting.
Mark Giangreco talked of Chet mentoring him early in his career, eventually turning over the reigns to him at NBC after he was fired from the station. Other speakers included friends and business partners like David Abrams, Bruce Levine, John McDonough and Jackie Meyers Thompson … and celebrities such as Bob Sirott and hockey greats Bobby Hull and Dennis Savard were in attendance on what proved to be a horribly sloppy and rainy day.
Although he was first and foremost a sports enthusiast, Chet’s love of music also came up several times … particularly his love for The Rolling Stones. (As many of you know, Chet was a frequent contributor to Forgotten Hits over the past 12-15 years, even posting his own column from time to time, which we dubbed “Coppock’s Topics,” allowing him to ramble freely on any random topic that happened to cross his mind … often in a free form stream of consciousness that kept the readers on their toes … and poised to respond.
And that’s what Chet wanted most … “react to me” … his attitude of “I don’t care … love me or hate me … but respond to me” was his life’s motto. He wanted to make people FEEL something.
It’s been especially rough for me these past few weeks as I had just been out to dinner with him a few weeks before the accident … we also attended The Ides Of March show that night at City Winery and I know for a fact that he would have been front and center at both the recent War concert at The Arcada Theatre and the Dick Biondi Fundraiser at 115 Bourbon Street this past weekend where his boys, The New Colony Six … a band he used to roadie for while he was still in college … were headlining the show.
A quote from Chet printed on the program states “People laugh at me because I wear a gold bracelet and two gold rings and a lot of jewelry and I like to wear flamboyant clothes. But I’m comfortable with all that. That’s the main thing. A lot of guys do it and I don’t think they’re comfortable with it. But in my case, I’m comfortable with everything I do. And I can live with it.”
One speaker talked about Chet’s gift for putting things in layman’s terms and then telling it like it is. He mentioned Chet’s comment about the Lincoln, Nebraska Cornhuskers several years ago … when Chet said, “Sure, the people of Lincoln, Nebraska boo the Cornhuskers … ‘cause what else have they got to boo? That and maybe the time the Dairy Queen raised their price on cones by fifteen cents.”
He was “the people’s champ” of sportscasting … and photos of him (at every age imaginable … OMG, when was Jack Brickhouse EVER that young and thin?!?!) adorned the lobby of the church … many with some of the biggest names in sports … and by that I mean EVERY sport … from hockey to baseball to football … to poses with Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan!!!
Coppock covered it all … and he did it in such a way as to make himself as popular and as relevant as the sports stars themselves. (Another commentator said that if Coppock was covering his own memorial service today, he probably would have described the crowd as “20,000 strong!” lol)
While that wasn’t quite the case, I will say that every person there in attendance had been touched by Chet’s magic in some shape or form.
And that’s what Chet wanted most … “react to me” … his attitude of “I don’t care … love me or hate me … but respond to me” was his life’s motto. He wanted to make people FEEL something.
It’s been especially rough for me these past few weeks as I had just been out to dinner with him a few weeks before the accident … we also attended The Ides Of March show that night at City Winery and I know for a fact that he would have been front and center at both the recent War concert at The Arcada Theatre and the Dick Biondi Fundraiser at 115 Bourbon Street this past weekend where his boys, The New Colony Six … a band he used to roadie for while he was still in college … were headlining the show.
A quote from Chet printed on the program states “People laugh at me because I wear a gold bracelet and two gold rings and a lot of jewelry and I like to wear flamboyant clothes. But I’m comfortable with all that. That’s the main thing. A lot of guys do it and I don’t think they’re comfortable with it. But in my case, I’m comfortable with everything I do. And I can live with it.”
One speaker talked about Chet’s gift for putting things in layman’s terms and then telling it like it is. He mentioned Chet’s comment about the Lincoln, Nebraska Cornhuskers several years ago … when Chet said, “Sure, the people of Lincoln, Nebraska boo the Cornhuskers … ‘cause what else have they got to boo? That and maybe the time the Dairy Queen raised their price on cones by fifteen cents.”
He was “the people’s champ” of sportscasting … and photos of him (at every age imaginable … OMG, when was Jack Brickhouse EVER that young and thin?!?!) adorned the lobby of the church … many with some of the biggest names in sports … and by that I mean EVERY sport … from hockey to baseball to football … to poses with Muhammad Ali and Hulk Hogan!!!
Coppock covered it all … and he did it in such a way as to make himself as popular and as relevant as the sports stars themselves. (Another commentator said that if Coppock was covering his own memorial service today, he probably would have described the crowd as “20,000 strong!” lol)
While that wasn’t quite the case, I will say that every person there in attendance had been touched by Chet’s magic in some shape or form.
We’ll miss you, Big Guy. (kk)
ANOTHER WLS ‘60’s JOCK LEAVES US:
Don’t ask me WHY I was up at 2 in the morning the other night when Clark Weber’s email arrived … it certainly wasn’t my intention to be!!! But I was, so I read the news immediately …
Apparently the daughters of Dex Card (the crewcut guy in the very first row) had been trying to get ahold of him for months but didn’t have a valid email address.
The reason for the email was to tell him that Dex had passed away last September … 9/11 to be exact … clearly, by the sentiments expressed in their email, they didn’t know that Clark’s wife Joan had passed a few months back as well. In any event, this is the reason for the long delay in getting the word out about Dex’s passing.
Ironically, I was just talking with Clark a day or two before when the news of Jim Dunbar’s death was announced.
So here in a bit of a recap is bits and pieces of both of those conversations … including the news as delivered by Dex’s daughters …
First Jim Dunbar … who passed away at the ironic age of 89 …
Jim Dunbar and Ralph Bodine worked together in Detroit and when Ralph was made GM at WLS, he brought Jim along, saying that when an opening appeared at KGO in San Francisco, Jim would be free to go.
Jim didn’t really care for the ‘LS format at all and simply bided his time until the KGO opening came along. I did the all night show at that time so Jim and I only met at jock meetings and ‘LS parties.
I didn’t know he had passed away … but 89 seems to be the age limit for ‘LS jocks.
I’d like to break that jinx!
Clark
And then this after he received the news about Dex Card …
Sorry to report the following, but old DJ’s don’t last forever.
Hello Clark,
This is Patricia Cothran, Dex's significant-other. I have been trying to find a way to write you and up until now have failed. Just this day I found a note from you to Dex dated April 16, 2017.
I was so very pleased to have come across it. He always loved hearing from you, Clark.
The reason I am writing is to let you know that Dex passed on 9-11-2018. He died rather peacefully at 5 am of natural causes.
As you may remember Dex had a mini-stroke in 2014. He was left with slight weakness on his left side but recovered quite well. They found he had emphysema and had to use oxygen during the night, which he also had to use the rest of his life.
Then in 2016 he had a fall and broke his right hip and his right clavicle. He again recovered quite well.
But then in May of 2018 he had to be hospitalized for a bowel obstruction. That was taken care of but he was too weak to go home and went to rehab for a few weeks. His daughters came from Chicago and we worked together to get him home with 24/7 private home care. This care continued until he passed peacefully the early morning of September 11th of 2018.
I really miss him, as does his family. The daughters thought better of writing an obituary. I was disappointed, as I believe he would have liked to have one, although he did not write one before hand.
Anyway, he is gone and leaves a fine legacy.
You know Clark, I do believe Dex chose to go on 9/11 so I would never forget him. Could I? Not ever! Love is forever.
Blessings to you and your wife … I'm sorry I never got to meet her.
Regards,
Patricia
Mention of Dex’s passing was also made at the Dick Biondi fundraiser on Sunday. With Dex gone, this leaves only Dick Biondi and Bob Hale as the two surviving members of the original WLS crew that took to the airwaves on May 2nd, 1960, when the station flipped over to a rock and roll / top 40 format. (Watch for more on this on May 2nd when we salute WLS’s 59th anniversary of becoming “the Rock of Chicago.”) Although he joined the station just a short time later, Clark Weber was NOT one of the original ‘LS Jocks when they first flipped the format.
Sorry to report the following, but old DJ’s don’t last forever.
Hello Clark,
This is Patricia Cothran, Dex's significant-other. I have been trying to find a way to write you and up until now have failed. Just this day I found a note from you to Dex dated April 16, 2017.
I was so very pleased to have come across it. He always loved hearing from you, Clark.
The reason I am writing is to let you know that Dex passed on 9-11-2018. He died rather peacefully at 5 am of natural causes.
As you may remember Dex had a mini-stroke in 2014. He was left with slight weakness on his left side but recovered quite well. They found he had emphysema and had to use oxygen during the night, which he also had to use the rest of his life.
Then in 2016 he had a fall and broke his right hip and his right clavicle. He again recovered quite well.
But then in May of 2018 he had to be hospitalized for a bowel obstruction. That was taken care of but he was too weak to go home and went to rehab for a few weeks. His daughters came from Chicago and we worked together to get him home with 24/7 private home care. This care continued until he passed peacefully the early morning of September 11th of 2018.
I really miss him, as does his family. The daughters thought better of writing an obituary. I was disappointed, as I believe he would have liked to have one, although he did not write one before hand.
Anyway, he is gone and leaves a fine legacy.
You know Clark, I do believe Dex chose to go on 9/11 so I would never forget him. Could I? Not ever! Love is forever.
Blessings to you and your wife … I'm sorry I never got to meet her.
Regards,
Patricia
Mention of Dex’s passing was also made at the Dick Biondi fundraiser on Sunday. With Dex gone, this leaves only Dick Biondi and Bob Hale as the two surviving members of the original WLS crew that took to the airwaves on May 2nd, 1960, when the station flipped over to a rock and roll / top 40 format. (Watch for more on this on May 2nd when we salute WLS’s 59th anniversary of becoming “the Rock of Chicago.”) Although he joined the station just a short time later, Clark Weber was NOT one of the original ‘LS Jocks when they first flipped the format.
Dex, of course, is the guy who counted down the WLS Silver Dollar Survey every weekday afternoon … and I, like millions of others, tuned in every day (even though it was essentially the exact same show five times a week! Lol)
Back then it didn’t matter … we wanted to hear the hits … and waited for our favorites to come up on the play list. (And every Friday we were able to pick up a brand new copy of The Silver Dollar Survey at our local record store and follow along!)
Dex participated with Forgotten Hits numerous times over the years, sharing memories both of his time on the air and about his Wild Goose clubs, where some of the biggest names in ‘60’s rock performed. He would also clear up a discrepancy here and there … and at times displayed a volatile temper, at one point telling me he didn’t want to live in the past anymore … he only wanted to live in the present … and then a week or two later, he’d weigh in on another topic! Lol
Thanks for the memories, Dex … from one of your faithful followers. (kk)
WLS' ‘60's DJ Dex Card passed away on 9/11/2018.
I just got this news from Clark Weber, who just found out today, even ‘tho it was months ago when this occurred.
I can't tell you how much Dex's show meant to me as a kid, sitting in my basement at the radio, listening to Dex count down the Silver Dollar Survey … especially in the winter when skip on AM was best.
It is the recording I made on his show of "Look Through Any Window" by the Hollies that made the song my all-time fave song of the ‘60's, logging five weeks at #1 on my personal charts.
HE was the man who gave the Cryan’ Shames their first break. Not long ago, an email from Tom Doody (Shames lead singer) confirmed this again to me. The Shames quickly became my fave band and they have stayed that way thru the decades. I have been SO lucky to be a small part of THEIR success in later years, again, thanks in part, to Dex.
Many of the people who remember Dex will because of the "Wild Goose" and "New Place" clubs he had in Chicago, too. He broke many a band in the process as well as helping bands that were on their way already.
Dex on the mic was velvet slick and made the daily repeat of all the survey songs something special even when you knew what song was coming. He had so many ad libs and nicknames that he threw about that I emulate those comments to this day, just for the fun of it.
It's hard to put into words just how much Dex meant to this ‘60's kid who LIVED for WLS back then. My brothers and I taped off the station whenever we could, me more in the afternoon with Dex on the air. In winter, I would literally run home from grade school (six blocks uphill) so that I could hear WLS as it started to come in in the late afternoon. When I was home sick from school, I would strain my ears to hear the first glimpses of Dex's countdown when the station and Dex were slowly beginning to come in. It was an excitement no other kid in Dodge City, Kansas (sans my brothers) could know or understand. In Chicago, teens and pre-teens (?) were well aware of Dex and I was jealous for sure. I grab every tape I can these days of Dex and the others, but cherish those WE Besch boys made then most of all.
When Larry Lujack replaced Dex in the summer of 1967, it was tragic to not have heard WLS that summer before 10 PM most days.
I never knew Dex had left until I heard Larry doing the survey later in fall when the station was coming in better again. Luckily, Dex and his new clubs helped the Chicago shock of not having him on the air for teens there.
Life was much more fun with the "man with the crew cut in the first row" was dishing out the hits. I plan to make an audio tribute this week.
Rest in peace, Dex.
Clark Besch
Clark Besch
Indeed he was a great one, Clark ... a consummate pro with a quick wit … always respectful of the bands that played his many venues.
The Ides did Waukegan, Elmhurst, Wheeling and, of course, Schererville, Indiana, the crossroads of America. He always treated us great.
I recall the Ides opening for Three Dog Night and Chase and sharing equal billing with The Mauds, The Fabulous Rhinestones, Dennis & Carl and so many more.
Dex and his love for great music will always be missed in this automated age.
Rock in Peace -
Jimbo
My heart is broken. This is going to take some time to process.
RIP Good Man
Toad
From Cryan’ Shames Guitarist and chief songwriter James Fairs (by way of Clark Besch):
I remember Dex. The real treat was hearing the excitement in his voice, saying "That was THE CRYAN’ SHAMES!!!" after playing one of our records ... so sorry to hear of his passing.
My condolences to his family and close friends.
James Fairs
Sue Petterson, one of the "Shameless Girls" who helped create the Cryan’ Shames website, had this to say about the passing of Dex Card:
Awww. I always laugh when Hooke imitates him … and does his “I’m gonna make you a STAR!” line. All the J’s were nice back then. DJs are so instrumental to the music business.
Sue
Back in January, Tom Doody of the Shames wrote to me:
Ron Riley’s brother was the guy who signed us to Columbia. He was a great guy. We would have been nothing without Dex Card.
Awww. I always laugh when Hooke imitates him … and does his “I’m gonna make you a STAR!” line. All the J’s were nice back then. DJs are so instrumental to the music business.
Sue
Back in January, Tom Doody of the Shames wrote to me:
Ron Riley’s brother was the guy who signed us to Columbia. He was a great guy. We would have been nothing without Dex Card.
Toad
And, finally, from Jimmy Pilster (aka J.C. Hooke) …
Clark,
You are so right … Dex Card was so important to all of us … and especially The Cryan' Shames. He gave us a break when he had us play one of the dances he was MC-ing. The next week he calls us at our rehearsal and ask if we are the group with the guy with the hook. We were. He then had us play another dance and invited two men to come and see us. These gentlemen were “in the business" … Jim Golden and Bob Monaco. They loved us and ended up managing and producing us. They also owned a record label and released 'Sugar and Spice' on their Destination label ... and got it played on the radio.
We worked with Dex many, many times. I think we ended up doing probably 60 shows at Dex's Wild Goose teen clubs and he never lost money on us. He cried when we broke up, and even got us back together about a year later for one 'last tour’ of his clubs.
We have some wonderful stories of him, most unrepeatable in mixed company.
We will miss him.
Jim Pilster
The Cryan' Shames
PS - I loved almost all the Hollies tunes. As a band, we were lucky enough to go see them (with Graham Nash) and learned many things about staging ourselves from them.
Hope to see you soon.
I was also sad to hear of the passing of Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) of the hit television series “Dallas” on April 21st.
Cliff was the guy you loved to hate, a victim of his own greed and quest for power without the mental capacity to back it up or know how to use it. Watching the pure pleasure J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) received just by toying with him was akin to Muhammad Ali taunting and teasing his opponent in the ring (damn, I sounded a bit like Chet Coppock right there!) … and these confrontations and situations always brought a smile to my face.
And, finally, from Jimmy Pilster (aka J.C. Hooke) …
Clark,
You are so right … Dex Card was so important to all of us … and especially The Cryan' Shames. He gave us a break when he had us play one of the dances he was MC-ing. The next week he calls us at our rehearsal and ask if we are the group with the guy with the hook. We were. He then had us play another dance and invited two men to come and see us. These gentlemen were “in the business" … Jim Golden and Bob Monaco. They loved us and ended up managing and producing us. They also owned a record label and released 'Sugar and Spice' on their Destination label ... and got it played on the radio.
We worked with Dex many, many times. I think we ended up doing probably 60 shows at Dex's Wild Goose teen clubs and he never lost money on us. He cried when we broke up, and even got us back together about a year later for one 'last tour’ of his clubs.
We have some wonderful stories of him, most unrepeatable in mixed company.
We will miss him.
Jim Pilster
The Cryan' Shames
PS - I loved almost all the Hollies tunes. As a band, we were lucky enough to go see them (with Graham Nash) and learned many things about staging ourselves from them.
Hope to see you soon.
I was also sad to hear of the passing of Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) of the hit television series “Dallas” on April 21st.
Cliff was the guy you loved to hate, a victim of his own greed and quest for power without the mental capacity to back it up or know how to use it. Watching the pure pleasure J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) received just by toying with him was akin to Muhammad Ali taunting and teasing his opponent in the ring (damn, I sounded a bit like Chet Coppock right there!) … and these confrontations and situations always brought a smile to my face.
“Dallas” has always been my personal favorite night-time soap (unless, of course, you count the comedy “Soap,” which was also extremely well done!) Kercheval appeared a couple of times on the “Dallas” reboot a few years ago … but it was Cliff Barnes in his prime that always tickled me. Thanks for the fun ride, Ken ... and some great television memories! (kk)
OOPS!
>>>and Chicago's own New Colony Six premier this week at ##9 with another Ronnie Rice ballad, "I Could Never Lie To You." (kk)
Oops ... that should be #39. And debuting right below that at #40 is one of the best songs of the year, "Nothing But A Heartache" by The Flirtations -- consistently one of the top finishers in the annual I.R.S. voting (It Really Shoulda ... been a Top 10 hit).
– Randy Price
Yeah, obviously a typo on my part … I must have hit the # key (cap) instead of the 3.
I can’t believe tax time came and went and we never heard a single word about this year’s IRS Countdown … that’s gotta be a first for me in about fifteen years!
Will have to check in with Rich to see who’s counting them down … and when! (kk)
This And That:
Hometown Boys Do Good!
The brand new Dennis DeYoung / Jim Peterik album we keep telling you about just got coverage in Ultimate Classic Rock (with a nice interview and cool pic to boot!)
You can read all about it here:
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dennis-deyoung-new-album-2019/
Peterik and The Ides of March have just been booked to perform at The Genesee Theater for a show on Saturday, October 26th, which will feature support acts Bo Bice (American Idol runner-up, current lead singer of Blood, Sweat And Tears and the guy who scored his own hit with Peterik’s “Vehicle” a few years back) as well as Mark Farner, former brains behind Grand Funk Railroad. (We saw Mark as part of Jim’s World Stage show a couple of years ago and he put on an outstanding show.)
Tickets go on sale to the general public next week … but you can order presale tickets TODAY after 10 am by visiting The Genesee Website and entering the PreSale code GENESEE. (This is gonna be a REALLY good show, people!) kk
https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/07005681D89F4828?CAMEFROM=CFC_GENESEE_EMAIL_PRESALE_THEIDESOFMARCH2019#efeat6916
Other shows coming to The Genesee include Burton Cummings (May 16th), Cheap Trick (June 7th), UB40 (September 20th), Poco with Orleans (September 21st), April Wine with Asia (September 28th), Three Dog Night (as in Danny Hutton, October 4th) and Kansas (October 19th) … all available now thru the Genesee Theatre Online Box Office:
https://www.geneseetheatre.com/events/all
And, speaking of new albums, there was big news (and much excitement) last week when Bruce Springsteen announced that he would be releasing a new album on June 14th.
Titled “Western Stars,” The Boss tells us the new LP “draws inspiration from Southern California pop records of the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s.”
It also continues on a familiar theme he has embraced for the past couple of decades with his solo work.
Springsteen fans can’t wait to hear the results. (kk)
The Queen + Adam Lambert Story aired on Monday Night (April 29th). Tracing Lambert’s career back to his first audition for American Idol, the documentary attempts to convey the nearly impossible and unenviable task of Lambert being asked to replace the simply irreplaceable Freddie Mercury as the lead singer of Queen. (It’s funny because I don’t remember Paul Rodgers going through all this “under the microscope” scrutiny … and he didn’t sound ANYTHING at ALL like Freddie! Nor did he exhibit the theatrical flair that Lambert exudes on stage.)
And maybe that’s what fans object to the most … Adam Lambert is such an incredible singer ... and as such, he almost embodies the spirit of Freddie Mercury and makes these Queen Classic live again. (For my money, I can’t think of anyone who could possibly have done it better … except, perhaps, Marc Martel, who handled the Freddie vocals in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody.”)
Hand-picked by Brian May and Roger Taylor for the film after watching several of his YouTube videos (Martel’s version of “Somebody To Love” has over 13 Million Views!!!), Marc did a stellar job of filling in the vocal gaps in the film. (He also just performed at The Arcada Theatre last week to a sell-out crowd … would have loved to have seen that one!!!)
Lambert first performed with Queen as part of the American Idol finale and at first was hesitant to join the band as their new lead singer, knowing full well comparisons would be made till the end of time. (It’s quite ridiculous really … Freddie’s gone … and Queen’s incredible music should not go unheard … especially when May and Taylor are still ready, willing and able to perform it. The fact that “Bohemian Rhapsody” was an over-the-top box office smash doesn’t hurt things either!!!)
This is another show I’d love to see. Lambert is still in fine voice and puts on one heck of a show. For me, if you want to see Queen music performed live today, THIS is the way to do it! (kk)
Did you happen to catch Cher’s appearance on The Tonight Show last week when host Jimmy Fallon featured the stars of “Cher: The Musical?”
Mid-performance of the Sonny and Cher breakthrough hit / signature tune “I Got You Babe,” Cher came out to take over the female lead vocal part … and it was quite a bit of fun. (And I’ve got to tell you … “Fake Sonny” held his own with the timeless diva!)
If you happen to have missed it, you can check it out here:
OOPS!
>>>and Chicago's own New Colony Six premier this week at ##9 with another Ronnie Rice ballad, "I Could Never Lie To You." (kk)
Oops ... that should be #39. And debuting right below that at #40 is one of the best songs of the year, "Nothing But A Heartache" by The Flirtations -- consistently one of the top finishers in the annual I.R.S. voting (It Really Shoulda ... been a Top 10 hit).
– Randy Price
Yeah, obviously a typo on my part … I must have hit the # key (cap) instead of the 3.
I can’t believe tax time came and went and we never heard a single word about this year’s IRS Countdown … that’s gotta be a first for me in about fifteen years!
Will have to check in with Rich to see who’s counting them down … and when! (kk)
This And That:
Hometown Boys Do Good!
The brand new Dennis DeYoung / Jim Peterik album we keep telling you about just got coverage in Ultimate Classic Rock (with a nice interview and cool pic to boot!)
You can read all about it here:
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dennis-deyoung-new-album-2019/
Peterik and The Ides of March have just been booked to perform at The Genesee Theater for a show on Saturday, October 26th, which will feature support acts Bo Bice (American Idol runner-up, current lead singer of Blood, Sweat And Tears and the guy who scored his own hit with Peterik’s “Vehicle” a few years back) as well as Mark Farner, former brains behind Grand Funk Railroad. (We saw Mark as part of Jim’s World Stage show a couple of years ago and he put on an outstanding show.)
Tickets go on sale to the general public next week … but you can order presale tickets TODAY after 10 am by visiting The Genesee Website and entering the PreSale code GENESEE. (This is gonna be a REALLY good show, people!) kk
https://www1.ticketmaster.com/event/07005681D89F4828?CAMEFROM=CFC_GENESEE_EMAIL_PRESALE_THEIDESOFMARCH2019#efeat6916
Other shows coming to The Genesee include Burton Cummings (May 16th), Cheap Trick (June 7th), UB40 (September 20th), Poco with Orleans (September 21st), April Wine with Asia (September 28th), Three Dog Night (as in Danny Hutton, October 4th) and Kansas (October 19th) … all available now thru the Genesee Theatre Online Box Office:
https://www.geneseetheatre.com/events/all
And, speaking of new albums, there was big news (and much excitement) last week when Bruce Springsteen announced that he would be releasing a new album on June 14th.
Titled “Western Stars,” The Boss tells us the new LP “draws inspiration from Southern California pop records of the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s.”
It also continues on a familiar theme he has embraced for the past couple of decades with his solo work.
Springsteen fans can’t wait to hear the results. (kk)
The Queen + Adam Lambert Story aired on Monday Night (April 29th). Tracing Lambert’s career back to his first audition for American Idol, the documentary attempts to convey the nearly impossible and unenviable task of Lambert being asked to replace the simply irreplaceable Freddie Mercury as the lead singer of Queen. (It’s funny because I don’t remember Paul Rodgers going through all this “under the microscope” scrutiny … and he didn’t sound ANYTHING at ALL like Freddie! Nor did he exhibit the theatrical flair that Lambert exudes on stage.)
And maybe that’s what fans object to the most … Adam Lambert is such an incredible singer ... and as such, he almost embodies the spirit of Freddie Mercury and makes these Queen Classic live again. (For my money, I can’t think of anyone who could possibly have done it better … except, perhaps, Marc Martel, who handled the Freddie vocals in the film “Bohemian Rhapsody.”)
Hand-picked by Brian May and Roger Taylor for the film after watching several of his YouTube videos (Martel’s version of “Somebody To Love” has over 13 Million Views!!!), Marc did a stellar job of filling in the vocal gaps in the film. (He also just performed at The Arcada Theatre last week to a sell-out crowd … would have loved to have seen that one!!!)
Lambert first performed with Queen as part of the American Idol finale and at first was hesitant to join the band as their new lead singer, knowing full well comparisons would be made till the end of time. (It’s quite ridiculous really … Freddie’s gone … and Queen’s incredible music should not go unheard … especially when May and Taylor are still ready, willing and able to perform it. The fact that “Bohemian Rhapsody” was an over-the-top box office smash doesn’t hurt things either!!!)
This is another show I’d love to see. Lambert is still in fine voice and puts on one heck of a show. For me, if you want to see Queen music performed live today, THIS is the way to do it! (kk)
Did you happen to catch Cher’s appearance on The Tonight Show last week when host Jimmy Fallon featured the stars of “Cher: The Musical?”
Mid-performance of the Sonny and Cher breakthrough hit / signature tune “I Got You Babe,” Cher came out to take over the female lead vocal part … and it was quite a bit of fun. (And I’ve got to tell you … “Fake Sonny” held his own with the timeless diva!)
If you happen to have missed it, you can check it out here:
Woodstock 50 has been cancelled. However plans for another commemorative event are still being discussed, so stay tuned (and don’t give up hope yet!)
Although a stellar, all-star line-up had been announced, it was decided (despite a substantial investment by the promoters) that the festival couldn’t sustain the level of commitment and quality necessary to pull off such an event. (kk)
Although a stellar, all-star line-up had been announced, it was decided (despite a substantial investment by the promoters) that the festival couldn’t sustain the level of commitment and quality necessary to pull off such an event. (kk)
HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRE ALERT:
Micky Dolenz joined Alice Cooper at Cooper’s Solid Rock event in LA Saturday.
Of course, the two are part of the infamous original-Hollywood Vampires.
In addition to a slew of solo shows, Dolenz re-joins Michael Nesmith for a series of shows that are part of the Mike & Micky tour of Australia and New Zealand in June.
David Salidor
Is Elvis Presley Still Alive And Serving As Pastor Bob Joyce in Arkansas?
Of COURSE he is!!! (kk)
Check it out …
https://fabiosa.com/ctclb-rsmkb-aubir-pbmts-phkbr-elvis-presley-is-alive-conspiracy-theorists-claim-he-is-serving-as-pastor-bob-joyce-in-arkansas/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=rpost&utm_campaign=es&fbclid=IwAR37dW8dOopmux2uOS3R-xCLAlwdP8uHVX6KvmscIlWzxRiVOE2KHAdNLC0
kk:
You told me that Elvis was dead.
FB
I never said that … I see him at Burger King and the Donut Shop all the time!!! (kk)
https://fabiosa.com/ctclb-rsmkb-aubir-pbmts-phkbr-elvis-presley-is-alive-conspiracy-theorists-claim-he-is-serving-as-pastor-bob-joyce-in-arkansas/?utm_source=daily&utm_medium=rpost&utm_campaign=es&fbclid=IwAR37dW8dOopmux2uOS3R-xCLAlwdP8uHVX6KvmscIlWzxRiVOE2KHAdNLC0
kk:
You told me that Elvis was dead.
FB
I never said that … I see him at Burger King and the Donut Shop all the time!!! (kk)
kk …
Last night before the Yankees / Giants game Metallica played the National Anthem.
Not one of my favorite groups … but I think they did a great job.
Can I vote for this one for your top 3333 Countdown?
Frank B.
Sorry, no … it can’t be “classic rock” until it’s been around for at LEAST a year!!! (Plus it actually has to be available to play!!!)
You can, however, vote for Jimi Hendrix’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner” from Woodstock … it currently has sixteen votes! (kk)
>>>Hair was hailed as the first Rock Musical (some might debate that point ... we've even seen "West Side Story" credited with that distinction), it certainly garnered a whole lot of attention when it first hit the mainstream. It pre-dated "Jesus Christ Superstar" by a couple of years, (which is often listed in this same category) and grabbed a lot of attention for its live, on stage nudity. (This, too, was not a first ... "Oh! Calcutta" had opened earlier, shocking audiences with their full-frontal assault ... speaking of which ... and I'm going strictly from memory here ... wasn't John Lennon supposed to have something to do with "Oh! Calcutta" at some point in time??? Wasn't he supposed to write a scene or something??? Did that ever happen?) kk
This, reportedly, is John's contribution to the revue.
It references something Paul McCartney said about The Beatles that supposedly resurfaced during promotion of his "Egypt Station" album last year.
Read at your own risk.
https://ukjarry.blogspot.com/2009/11/324-john-lennon-four-in-hand.html
Bob Frable
You can, however, vote for Jimi Hendrix’s version of “The Star Spangled Banner” from Woodstock … it currently has sixteen votes! (kk)
>>>Hair was hailed as the first Rock Musical (some might debate that point ... we've even seen "West Side Story" credited with that distinction), it certainly garnered a whole lot of attention when it first hit the mainstream. It pre-dated "Jesus Christ Superstar" by a couple of years, (which is often listed in this same category) and grabbed a lot of attention for its live, on stage nudity. (This, too, was not a first ... "Oh! Calcutta" had opened earlier, shocking audiences with their full-frontal assault ... speaking of which ... and I'm going strictly from memory here ... wasn't John Lennon supposed to have something to do with "Oh! Calcutta" at some point in time??? Wasn't he supposed to write a scene or something??? Did that ever happen?) kk
This, reportedly, is John's contribution to the revue.
It references something Paul McCartney said about The Beatles that supposedly resurfaced during promotion of his "Egypt Station" album last year.
Read at your own risk.
https://ukjarry.blogspot.com/2009/11/324-john-lennon-four-in-hand.html
Bob Frable
EAGLE VISION PROUDLY PRESENTS: EVERYONE STARES
Two years into The Police’s journey to stardom, Stewart Copeland began documenting the band’s tour around the US in the winter of 1978: traveling in the back of a van, playing clubs and sewing the seeds of their success. Everyone Stares is a story of extraordinary talent, camaraderie, hard-work and eventual world domination, by a maverick live band.
Stewart Copeland says, “In 1978, when I was a member of a struggling rock band called The Police, I scraped together enough money to buy a super 8 movie camera. As soon as I raised it to my eye and started filming, amazing things began to happen. It was like watching a movie unfold as the band sparked a fire that lit up the world for us. Everyone Stares is that movie.”
With Copeland’s narrative & dry humor serving as the perfect foil to the footage, the film is scored using rare live performances and studio “derangements” of classic Police songs. Bonus features include over 20 minutes of extra footage and commentary by Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland.
The Police have won six Grammy Awards, two Brit Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003.
About Stewart Copeland:
Stewart Copeland was the drummer for the British rock band The Police. He has produced film and video game soundtracks and written musical pieces for opera, ballet and orchestras. Stewart is a recipient of the Hollywood Film Festival’s first Outstanding Music in Film Visionary Award and was voted as one of the Greatest Drummers of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2016. His career includes the sale of more than 60 million records worldwide.
Stewart Copeland’s Official Website
Stewart Copeland Facebook
The Police Official Website
The Police Facebook
