Just got some disappointing news that Mark Lindsay was
dropping out of this year’s Happy Together Tour. (Damn!
He was one of the main reasons I was considering checking it out this year!) Still, we all have to respect his decision and allow him the proper healing process. We want him to be able to enjoy life with a health ankle ... and he certainly doesn't need to be on stage doing his elevated "kicks" right now!
While it's true, of course, that we'll miss him, the rest of the line-up’s not to shabby either …
The Cowsills (another of my faves), Ron Dante and Mark Volman as The Turtles, The Vogues, Jay and the Americans, Little Anthony and now, I guess, Gary Puckett.
In Mark’s own words …
Hey all –
I see it’s public, so I’ll confirm it. I decided to step away from the Happy Together Tour this year. My ankle fusion revision was in July, and my orthopedist and I figured that gave me six months of going from non-weight bearing to walking, and then five months of PT to strengthen it up. We didn’t plan on a contaminated screw/surgery, or the second screw falling out. Unfortunately, that put me well behind schedule, and after my last visit, the orthopedist felt that my best case scenario (and very little with my ankle has been best case) was that I wouldn’t be walking with full weight until June. Three months on Happy Together without prior PT, and putting lots of miles on the freshly-fused ankle, would be way too risky for my long term health. My running days are over, but I want to be able to hike on the treadmill and out in Mother Nature.
In addition, I agreed to do the tour only if I “BMOB” - the second B being “bus.” Deb and I decided to trade in the Airstream on a 40-footer so the kits could come with us, and so I could beat myself up less than being on a bus with 12 other people and not sleeping well. Unfortunately, while Deb could probably do all the driving despite her hamstring surgery rehab, that injury has exacerbated a pre-existing Achilles issue (R foot of course) and there’s a possibility she’ll need surgery for that as well, since conservative treatments aren’t doing much.
Gary Puckett will be taking my place on the tour and even though I won’t be there, I know you’ll enjoy the show. Please know I didn’t make the decision lightly, and despite my agent being the most persuasive guy on the planet, even he agreed that this was the best decision for now.
Thanks for understanding,
M
An expanded version of Eric Clapton’s award winning, multi-platinum “Unplugged” album is being released on May 9th. The new two CD set will feature a brand new mix, material not released not the original version and an interview with Clapton.
Lots more details here:
https://theseconddisc.com/2025/01/27/eric-clapton-unplugged-enhanced/
Thanks to KOMA Oklahoma City veteran broadcaster Larry Neal for letting me know that KOMA great DJ Dale Wehba has passed away at age 88.
Before WLS and Ron Riley stole my radio heart in 1965, KOMA was THE station for all in the midwest to listen to and Dale was THE primo star of the station. KOMA had SOOO many great DJs in the early/mid 60s, but Dale led the way for me (and my brothers, I think). The entire midwest was captivated by Dale and KOMA, whether driving in their cars or at home DXing the big 1520 fade in and out signal. They gave band gig info for states from the Dakotas to Texas because their 50,000 watts spread far and wide. It was the SUPREME midwest station.
The story on Dale's passing:
Radio legend Dale Wehba dies - Piedmont-Surrey Gazette
I loved listening to Dale countdown the KOMA "Sing-a-Long Survey" and writing down the songs and numbers as he gave them out. I was only nine and really loved whatever KOMA said, but based on stuff I saved, I thought the KOMA catch phrase of "Yours Truly, KOMA" was "Your Struly KOMA," not knowing what it meant (!) and the same with Dale's catch phrase ""Viva La Wehba," which I thought was "Wehba la Wehba." Anyway, we visited KOMA in 1963 and 1965 and at a Gary Lewis concert in the Summer of ‘65, we got Dale (and the other KOMA jocks) to sign a KOMA current survey, below.
I was just starting to learn about typing in 1965 and what better way to learn than to type up the KOMA chart as Dale counted the numbers down! Lots of times, as with WLS later, I would not catch some songs due to the station fading out and not knowing what they played that moment. Anyway, I was already making my OWN personal charts, but KOMA was a big part of my early survey days.
Here's the official chart for the above week, which I got many decades later.
SO, Dale, play me a request in Heaven. You were a great DJ and friend to every ear in the midwest!
Clark Besch
Nancy and I went to the fire relief fundraiser at Canyon Club last Tuesday. Fantastic show! Over 40 musicians and over 50 songs! All the performers were great, but for me the best thing was the high level organization. There were never more than 5-7 minutes between acts and Rita Wilde, who was the mistress of ceremonies, kept it all moving. Highlights for me included one of the winners of The Voice singing Desperado at least as well as Linda, Mickey Dolenz singing I’m a Believer, two members of The Lovin’ Spoonful singing Do You Believe In Magic and You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice, Don Randi jamming with the guitarist from Wings, Steve Porcaro jamming with the guitarist from Supertramp, who did an interesting arrangement of Take The Long Way Home, a band called Venice, who did an interesting kick ass cover of Woodstock, the house band called Tribe, who did a great job of backing many performers, The Delgado Brothers, who did Latin rock, and finally the African American backup singer for the Rolling Stones wrapping it up. The only disappointment was The Strawberry Alarm Clock, who just couldn’t match the energy of the other acts. A great night for a great cause.
Jerry Tintor
We tried to watch some of the FireAid concert Thursday Night but they started it so late for a work night that we barely caught a glimpse.
Glad to see people coming together to help those in need as they rebuild their pretentious mansions. (Just kidding … but it really is kind of ironic, isn’t it?) Still, loss is loss … and it’s all relative … and it’s a genuine shame that ANYBODY should have to suffer like this. (kk)
And, since I’m getting all cynical here …
How do we get Donald Trump to pardon Pete Rose so he can finally take his rightful place in Baseball’s Hall Of Fame?!?!
What Rose did OFF the field should have no bearing here … if anyone understands career indiscretions, it just HAS to be Donald Trump.
The Hall of Fame honors what you did ON the field … and that’s all that matters. There is NO universe where one of the greatest players of all time should be denied his just due honoring the career that he had and the landmarks that he set.
C’mon, Trump … you’re running your “ready for my close-up” shots every single night on TV since you took office, signing this and signing that and bending this rule to make room for that rule.
Let’s do the right thing here and lift the ban on Pete Rose and let him take his rightful place amongst all of baseball’s all-time greats. (kk)
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
2/2/65 – Frankie Avalon appears on the television series “Combat” on ABC-TV
This is about four months after fellow Teen Idol Bobby Rydell appeared on the series ...
And just a month after Frankie appeared on “Burke’s Law.”
