Not a bad place to end up, I guess, if you're going to be stuck in the middle of SOMEWHERE!
And now, on with the show ...
The 2025 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominees have just been announced and, as usual, there are more than a few head-scratchers on the list ...
But the fact that Chubby Checker FINALLY made the list blows me away!!! Congratulations, Chubby ... we've been campaigning for you for DECADES now!!! (Chubby has a show coming up here locally in July with Brian Hyland!)
The complete list of nominees includes Bad Company (a long time coming), The Black Crowes, Mariah Carey (a shoo-in), Chubby, Joe Cocker (Yay!), Billy Idol (that makes sense), Joy Division / New Order, Cyndi Lauper (again), Mana', Oasis (well deserved), Outkast, Phish, Sound Garden and The White Stripes.
The Fan Vote has already started ...
https://vote.rockhall.com/vote-complete?nominee038=on&nominee055=on&nominee059=on&nominee058=on
Paul McCartney staged a surprise concert last night at New York City's Bowery Ballroom.
Announced out of the blue at noon, tickets (for only $50!) sold out IMMEDIATELY ... and McCartney and his band took the stage a few hours later, playing to a full house, standing room only crowd of 575 lucky fans.
And what a set list ... these selections came from all over the place throughout his storied career ...
A Hard Day’s Night
Letting Go
Got to Get You Into My Life
Let Me Roll It
My Valentine
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five
Maybe I’m Amazed
I’ve Just Seen a Face
From Me to You
Mrs. Vanderbilt
Blackbird
Come On To Me
Jet
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Get Back
Now and Then
Lady Madonna
Let It Be
Hey Jude
Golden Slumbers
Carry That Weight
The End
Just this past Sunday (the 9th), he was in New Orleans for The Super Bowl
And, as for Super Bowl LIX???
I think it might have been more interesting watching the OTHER Chiefs ...
What'd you think of Kendrick Lamar's Half-Time performance?
(Be honest ... how many of you out there watched it just to see if we were going to get a live Biggie/Tupac moment with Drake silencing Lamar???)
Truth is, I can't honestly answer that question because I didn't even bother to watch it ... if he performed for fifteen minutes I saw maybe two or three minutes tops and then left the room!
TV Line readers who responded to an immediate poll after he left the stage gave it an overwhelming "F" rating ...
Noise 11 went a step further, calling it the worst Super Bowl performance of all time -
Even worse than what they described as The Black-Eyed Peas' "WTF" performance of 2011, calling Lamar's a "WTAF" performance!
They rank Bruce Springsteen, Prince, The Rolling Stones and Lady Gaga as amongst the all-time best ...
Prior to the game, TV Line ranked what they felt were The Top Ten BEST Super Bowl Performances of All-Time (and you won't find The Rolling Stones, The Boss, Paul McCartney or Justin Timberlake's "Nipplegate" moment listed ... although JT DID make the list, thanks to his performance with *NSync, Britney Spears and Aerosmith in 2001.)
You can view the whole list here:
And then THIS Sunday, he'll be taking part in SNL's 50th Anniversary television special!
And let me tell you, they've put together quite a guest list!!!
Please indulge me in a bit of name-dropping here …
ALL of these artists are expected to take part in the SNL 50th Anniversary Concert, airing on NBC as a very special three-hour event on Sunday, February 16th …
Quinta Brunson, Sabrina Carpenter, Dave Chappelle, Robert De Niro, Adam Driver, Ayo Edebiri, Tom Hanks, Woody Harrelson, Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian, Peyton Manning, Steve Martin, Paul McCartney, John Mulaney, Pedro Pascal, Martin Short, Paul Simon, … and many more names are expected to be added to this list!
And that doesn’t include all of the Not Ready for Primetime Players who are returning for the celebration: Fred Armisen, Chevy Chase, Jane Curtin, Pete Davidson, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kate McKinnon, Seth Meyers, Tracy Morgan, Garrett Morris, Eddie Murphy, Laraine Newman, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Chris Rock, Andy Samberg, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson and Kristen Wiig
And if the three hour special next Sunday isn’t enough for you, that show will be preceded by SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, streaming live from Radio City Music Hall on Friday, February 14th at 8/7c — exclusively on Peacock. The Jimmy Fallon-emceed spectacle will feature “a star-studded lineup of musical performances and comedy guests” and “will bring together legendary Saturday Night Live hall-of-famers, iconic guests and surprise musical performances,” per the official press release synopsis. Confirmed performers include Arcade Fire, Backstreet Boys, Bad Bunny, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Brittany Howard, Chris Martin, David Byrne, DEVO, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Jelly Roll, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Mumford & Sons, Post Malone, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Robyn, The B-52s and The Roots.
And then on Saturday, February 15th, NBC will air the October 11, 1975 premiere of SNL — with host George Carlin, musical guests Billy Preston and Janis Ian, an appearance by comedian Andy Kaufman and a sketch from Muppets creator Jim Henson — at 11:30/10:30c. (kk)
And in one last bit of Beatles news ...
In honor of the anniversary of The Beatles' first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Best Classic Bands ran a list of ten classic rock performances. (While not all of these would have necessarily made MY list, it does show the diversity that ol' Stone Face presented in his efforts to draw "the youngsters" into watching his show!
https://bestclassicbands.com/ed-sullivan-rock-classics-2-11-18/
OK, one more ...
Record Store Day brings us a new John Lennon live set, which will be followed up by the complete concert film and soundtrack at a later date ...
(You'll find more Beatles stuff in this week's Sunday Comments Page) kk
If you've been looking forward to the long-awaited Led Zeppelin flick "Becoming Led Zeppelin," here's a quick review to further whet your appetite ...
As read in Forgotten Hits regarding the “Saturday Survey” from February 8, 1965 ~~~
“Jewel Akens is up 18 places with "The Birds And The Bees," this week's #30 Hit.”
At that time, that rapidly charting song received a large amount of airplay nationwide and on my radio show, that was no exception. Always striving to create different ways to present it, one afternoon I said, “Jewel Atkins with the Birds and the Bees! I’d love to play the other side of that record to hear the full story about all that but I’m not allowed to!”
As free-wheeling as the mid-1960s were, there was also a thin thread of Conservatism running through it and, with that in mind, at the radio station where I worked, we were often reminded that people listen to our radio shows only because they had “invited” us into their homes and cars and, with few “common-sense” restrictions, we were told to be on our best behavior while on the air.
I apparently had violated that policy because the next day there was a required Air Staff Meeting where what I had said was presented as an example of something not to say and we were all strongly reminded again to keep that policy in mind at all times when we were on the air!
Funny how today I wish I would have saved the accompanying memo regarding that remark and policy as a bit of personal broadcast history but, at the time, I was just a promising young Hot Shot and I was pretty embarrassed about it!
You may remember Johnny Fever had been fired once at a radio station before he joined WKRP for saying “Booger” on the air! Imagine if I had worked at that station!
WKRP, on the other hand, was a bit more permissive!
CB ( which stands for “Can’t-say Booger!” )
More from Chuck here ...
More on Micky’s Valentine’s Day Show at The Strat in Las Vegas …
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/las-vegas-now/micky-dolenz-songs-and-stories-comes-to-the-strat/
Billy Joel has added a few new dates to his concert tour, appearing with Stevie Nicks, Sting or Rod Stewart, depending on which city you happen to catch him!
Here's how things stand right now:
February 22nd – Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
March 15th – Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
March 29th – Detroit, MI – Ford Field (with Stevie Nicks)
April 11th – Syracuse, NY – JMA Wireless Dome (with Sting)
April 26th – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Field (with Sting)
May 10th – Charlotte, NC – Bank of America Stadium (with Sting)
May 23rd – Salt Lake City, UT – Rice-Eccles Stadium (with Sting)
June 7 – Edinburgh, UK – Scottish Gas Murrayfieldth
June 21st – Liverpool, UK – Anfield
July 5th – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium (with Rod Stewart)
July 18th – Bronx, NY – Yankee Stadium (with Rod Stewart)
August 8th – East Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium (with Stevie Nicks)
August 21st – Flushing, NY – Citi Field (with Sting)
September 5th – Washington, DC – Nationals Park (with Sting)
September 20th – Cincinnati, OH – Paycor Stadium (with Rod Stewart)
November 1st – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (moved from Jan 17)
And The Doobie Brothers are going back out on the road again ...
We just saw them last August ... and now they're already coming back in September ... and to the same venue no less!
This time around, they'll be touring with The Coral Reefer Band (minus Jimmy Buffett, of course)
Here is their tour itinerary so far ...
(more dates will definitely be added)
8.4.25 – Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
8.6.25 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
8.7.25 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
8.9.25 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live
8.10.25 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach
8.12.25 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
8.13.25 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
8.15.25 – Boston, MA – Xfinity Center
8.17.25 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion
8.18.25 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
9.4.25 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
9.5.25 – Ridgedale, MO – Thunder Ridge Nature Arena
9.9.25 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheatre
9.10.25 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheater
9.12.25 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
9.13.25 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
9.15.25 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheatre
9.17.25 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
9.18.25 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
This time around it's to promote their new album, "Walk This Road," coming out in June ... and yes, Michael McDonald will be back with them for all of these dates. (kk)
Kent,
Thanks for posting A NIGHT WITH DADDY G. I hadn't heard that in years. It did make our local survey here in OKC but without checking, I don't know how high it got.
In the discussion of Dion's RUNAROUND SUE, the name ROBERTA came up. First thing I thought of was singer Frankie Ford's record in 1959. Have a good weekend.
Larry
I first discovered “Roberta” thanks to The Bones’ 1972 remake, which I bought immediately. (While it only peaked at #85 nationally, it was a Top 20 Hit here in Chicago on the old WCFL chart.) That’s ok … Frankie Ford’s version never charted at all! (kk)
From Tom Cuddy …
One’s on … the other’s off!
Rupert Holmes Developing Pina Colada Movie
https://deadline.com/2025/02/rupert-holmes-developing-escape-movie-alloy-entertainment-1236278477/
Netflix Cancels Release of Controversial Prince Documentary
Timmy sent us this cool shot of Ritchie Valens and Waylon Jennings, captured live on stage ...
And a few more pix from Jim Roup ...
Remembering the late, great Johnny "Guitar" Watson, born on February 3rd.
Also Happy Birthday!🎈🎂 to Fabian, getting gas in Studio City, and Tom Brokaw at Spago.
🎂 Happy Birthday 🎈 to Ted Koppel!
He won lots of awards ... but no Grammys
Happy Birthday 🎂🎈!!! to Joe Pesci on February 9th and Mia Farrow as well , who is turning 80.
Joe's looking sharp at Matteo's in West L.A. Mia was signing her book at Book Soup in West Hollywood. 🎈 🎂 !!!
Man, the collection of photos you must have!!!
Thanks again, Jim ... ALWAYS a pleasure! (kk)
Timmy also sent us this interview with Marianne Faithfull ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3b_KFCpWY8
Hoping you can report progress on
this grand idea regarding saving and preserving The Joel Whitburn Collection ...
Phil
Unfortunately, I’ve heard no news on this front.
Our efforts to find and contact a possible source to help salvage a lifetime’s worth of work didn’t turn up anything concrete in the way of interest … lots of heartfelt wishes that this not fall by the wayside … but no efforts to save and preserve it either.
Meanwhile, Record Research has been running near weekly sales in an effort to liquidate all remaining inventory … and a good number of
these titles have since sold out. (Like
we’ve been telling you, once they’re gone, they’re gone … it doesn’t look like
ANY of these titles are going to find their way back into print or updating …
so if you’ve been procrastinating in any way, please get to their ebsite quick
to see if there’s anything left that may interest you … especially at
discounted pricing.
Will it ultimately all go up for auction? That’s probably a safe speculation … but we haven’t heard anything concrete from Joel’s daughter Kim in a while now, so it’s hard to say. My heart breaks just a little bit further every time I think of all the YEARS devoted to compiling this research and vast library of music. I just don’t know that there’s a way to monetize it anymore. The ideal hope was that somebody would step in and preserve it who didn’t NEED to monetize it … but wanted it recognized for the total uniqueness that it is. Someone who would honor it for the truly unique collection it is. (Hey, we’re still open to any and all good ideas … but I’ve gotta believe time is running out on this one.) kk
