Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Some Of Your Mid-Week Comments

It looks like Taylor Hawkins, Drummer for The Foo Fighters, had toxic levels of drugs in his system when he died.

A total of ten different substances were found in his system after an autopsy and toxicology test was performed, incuding marijuana, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines and opioids.

I don’t quite get this at this stage of the game.  Here you are in a MEGA successful band, just recently inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  Dave Grohl, for all intents and purposes, has founded a HUGE, money-making corporation … and the idea that he would jeopardize this business by allowing this type of behavior amongst the ranks just doesn’t seem logical to me.

Now add to the fact that Hawkins left behind a wife and family … and you’ve really got to wonder what his motivating factor was that would possess him to ingest THIS volume of different drugs to achieve the high he was shooting for, just prior to going on stage to perform before tens of thousands of fans … which is already a high unto itself.

I’ll never understand how, despite over sixty years of evidence to prove to the rock community just how dangerous this lifestyle can be, artists still choose to pursue it.  What a shame.  (kk)

And this just in …

The Foo Fighters have now officially cancelled their tour in the wake of the loss of their beloved drummer.

In an official statement released on Tuesday, the band said:

“It is with great sadness that Foo Fighters confirm the cancellation of all upcoming tour dates in light of the staggering loss of our brother, Taylor Hawkins.  We’re sorry for and share in the disappointment that we won’t be seeing one another as planned. Instead, let’s take this time to grieve, to heal, to pull our loved ones close, and to appreciate all the music and memories we’ve made together.”

Meanwhile, fans hoping that for the last Genesis concert ever original lead singer Peter Gabriel might show up to perform with the band one last time went home somewhat disappointed. Gabriel was, however, in the audience that night, watching the show with all the other fans.  Phil Collins acknowledged him from the stage … but Gabriel had no intentions of joining the group onstage.

The Genesis hit machine started AFTER Gabriel left the band.  (Ironically, he would go on to have a couple of huge pop hits of his own under his own name … 

“Sledgehammer” topped the charts in 1986 … and “Big Time” made The Top Ten the following year.  His songs have been Classic Rock staples for decades now, several finding their way on to movie soundtracks over the years.)

Peter Gabriel placed a total of six songs in our fan-voted list of The Top 3333 Most Essential Classic Rock Songs Of All-Time …

“Solisbury Hill” (#169), “Sledgehammer” (#200), “In Your Eyes” (#497), “Shock The Monkey” (#812) and “Games Without Frontiers” (#821) all made The Top 1000 … while “Big Time” lingered behind at #2136.  (kk)

kk …

Last night at WABC …

Cousin Brucie Was Very Excited … First Time Back In The Studio In Two Years.

His guest was Felix Cavaliere, there to talk about his New Book "MEMOIRS OF A RASCAL." He Talked Generally About The Book …

Why The “Young” Rascals?  The Harmonica Rascals Owed The Rights To The “Rascals” Name. Manager Sid Bernstein Added “Young” to their name.

Early On In Their Career, In Order To Get Some Attention, They Had A Plan To Kidnap Cousin Brucie and Bring Him To Their Show.

When They Saw That He Was Over 6 Feet Tall, They Just Invited Him.

Later That Night, Bowzer Told Tony Orlando Two Interesting Stories …

#1 = Johnny Maestro's Last Performance Was At Bowzer's Mohegan Sun Show. Johnny Finished His Set.  Bowzer Looked At Him and Knew He Wanted To Sing One More Song. He Sang " YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE."

Bowzer Went To The Dressing Room To Tell Johnny How Great He Was. He Was So Weak, The Guys Were Helping Him Put His Pants On.

#2 = Jay Black's Last Performance Is Over. He Whispers In Bowzer's Ear "I SUCKED -- BUT THEY STILL LOVE ME."

FB

Two of the greatest voices in rock and roll, for sure. It’s funny in a way because by any other standards, no one would ever consider Johnny Maestro or Jay Black to be “rock and roll singers” … and yet they were … and were very successful at it.  They had incredibly distinctive voices and just made it work … both with an extremely loyal following.  I feel bad that, other than numerous tv performances and a ton of YouTube clips, I never got to see either of them perform live … especially Jay, as he was always one of my favorites … good to the last drop, right up to the end.  (kk)

Kent,

I want to be the first to invite everyone to see the Cornerstones of Rock show at Summerfest in Milwaukee on Saturday, June 25th at 3:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to see this show as well as experiencing the world’s greatest music festival. General admission tickets are just $25 and this covers all 8 of the sizable general admission stages (but NOT the main amphitheater).  There will also be senior discounted tickets for those of us 62 and over. Visit the Summerfest.com website to see the massive list of acts this year.

Bob Verbos

New Berlin, WI

Thanks, Bob!  We’ve got a big weekend for music happening this weekend right here in Chi-Town, too …

Friday Night it’s Daryl Hall and Todd Rundgren at The Auditorium Theater …

Then on Saturday Night we’re off to see The Chicago Experience at The Metropolis Theater in Arlington Heights …

Wrapping things up on Sunday with a double feature of Paul Revere’s Raiders, playing their very last show, along with Jay and the Americans at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

Limited seats are still available for all three shows.  (kk)

From Ray Graffia, Jr. of The New Colony Six …

My guess is that this might have been the week after Larry Lujack's suggestion to flip the record was put into action but cannot state that with certainty ... 

Happy Monday ...     

Ray


Kent,

I always did like Bobby Hendrick's PSYCHO, a #6 peak here in OKC. Also, I did like the Swallow's recording of ITCHY TWITCHY FEELING on Federal (1958)

Larry


We often talk about the songs being selected for television commercials these days.

Well, after watching an absolute abundance of NCAA Tournament games lately, I can’t get over the fact that TWO different Jerry Reed songs are being used in ad campaigns today … and how much they’re playing them!!!

Whoduheverthunk that “East Bound And Down” and “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” would become marketing slogans!!!  The former was a “bubbling under” miss in 1977 (coming from a “Smokey and the Bandit” movie) while the latter made The Top Ten on all three national pop charts in 1971.  (kk)

In the March / May, 2022 issue of “FilmFax, The Magazine of Unusual Film, Television and Retro Pop Culture,” author Jan Alan Henderson reviewed the Harvey and Kenneth Kubernik book everybody’s been talking about, "Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child."

In their words, “The focus here is the man and his music, as told by those he worked with, and his effect on present and past culture. A tall order to be sure!  Some of the voices in this oral history have been heard before, but what makes this volume exceptional is the collection of characters who have remained in the shadows and unfamiliar voices greatly adds to the depth of the man and his music.  Simply put, the Kubernik brothers have revealed the man.  The previously unseen photographs alone are worth the price of admission." 

Have you picked up YOUR copy yet???  (kk)  

I was going to wrap this whole thing up today by telling you that Chuck Buell seems to be having a lot of gas issues lately …

But quite honestly, who DOESN’T have gas issues lately?!?!

I don’t know how much you’re paying by you, but Frannie and I actually saw $5.03 on the pump this past weekend!!!  Seriously?!?!?



I remember the first time I ever bought gas in my life ...

It was at a Sunoco station right near my house in beautiful downtown Berwyn ...

$0.28 per gallon!!!  (For real!)

I'll never forget when the price went up a short while later to $0.32 per gallon I was flabbergasted.  (Of course back then I was making $2.00 per hour working a 37 1/2 hour week ... remember those???  $75 a week ... and I thought I was the shit!!!  lol)  kk