New Colony Six News

Sadly, we haven't had a lot of New Colony Six news to report of late ...

Which is what makes today so special ...

The group (and group members) have a few performances coming up that we wanted to tell you about ...

Their first appearance will be this Friday Night (5/23) ... but unfortunately that show is already sold out ...

This is a full band, solo gig at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights area ... and comes after a Ray (Graffia), Ronnie (Rice) and Bruce (Mattey) spot last weekend at The Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb for another Cornerstones show.

Then, next Saturday (5/31), Ray Graffia, Jr. will be making a solo guest appearance along with Rick "Elvis" Saucedo, performing with what I'm told is a GREAT band, Ambidextrous (we'll find out ... we're going to the show) at The Moonlight Theatre in St. Charles.

Rick will open the show with his Elvis tribute, performing to pre-taped tracks and then join the band during their set (as will Ray Graffia for some special NC6 tracks) before EVERYBODY comes together on stage for the big finale.  (I haven't made it to The Moonlight Theatre yet so I'm anxious to check this out ... they seem to be having more and more shows there ... and I hear they're really good people to deal with ... Billy J. Kramer was just there about a month or two ago.)

 

Then the full band is back at The Arcada Theatre on August 31st.  Ronnie Rice will open the show with his "Day-O" / Human Jukebox act and then join the band for a couple of performances of their hits on which he played a key role. 

After that, it's two more Cornerstones shows to close out the year ...

 

September 28th at The Arcada ... and November 29th at The Des Plaines Theatre.  (tickets for all Arcada and Des Plaines Theatre shows are available thru oshows.com - tickets to the Moonlight Theatre show next weekend need to be purchased thru their own website - see link above - kk)

 

The New Colony Six were my favorite of all the Chicagoland '60's bands ...

 

They just seemed to have hit after hit on the local charts ... and, as you can see by the list provided below, they crossed over to the national charts several times as well. 

 

Back in 2005, we did a month-long spotlight series on the band, introducing them to readers all over the country who may not have been familiar with their catalog.  (Ray Graffia, Jr., Ronnie Rice and Bruce Mattey were all willing participants in telling their story.)

This was back in the days before we had a website ... so it has lingered in obscurity ever since. 

However, now that we're in the process of rebuilding everything due to the forgottenhits.com fiasco, I am seriously considering putting together a permanent page honoring the group.  Stay tuned for more details.

Meanwhile, Ray sent along a couple of other pieces of memorabilia to share with our readers ...

Including a YouTube video that traces the group's history in about 24 minutes (see photo below) 

 

A coool memory to share ...

https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-colony-six-reunion-and-we-were.html

Tuesday (WHOsday???) This And That

It’s the never-ending story …

Drummer Zak Starkey Says He Was Fired a Second Time from The Who Ahead of the Band’s Farewell Tour.

In Zak’s own words …

I was fired two weeks after reinstatement and asked to make a statement saying I had quit the who to pursue my other musical endevours this would be a lie. I love the who and would never had quit. So I didn’t make the statement ….quitting the who would also have let down the countless amazing people who stood up for me (thank you all a million times over and more) thru the weeks of mayhem of me going ‘in an out an in an out an in an out like a bleedin squeezebox x To clarify ‘other projects’ yes I do have other projects and always have. The Who have been sporadic or minimalist in touring most years apart from a two extensive tours in 2000 and 2006/7
To be precise while I was in the who 1996-1999 I had other projects with Johnny Marr, Lightning Seeds and Mike Scott.

2000-2003 Johnny Marr and The Healers opening for oasis in Europe releasing album and 6 month world tour 2004-2008 Oasis 2 studio albums and 120live shows. 2006-2017 Pengu!Ns , Sshh touring internationally. Releasing 3 singles, Kasabian bbc proms 2007 Weller Coxon Starkey Mani.

2015 Hollywood Vampires Roxy LA shows and rock in Rio 2017-2020 Trojan Jamaica record label releasing three albums and winning Grammy for best reggae album 2020 2020 Peter Green Tribute Concert .

As u see there has always been time for other projects … 2022-2025/now mantra of the cosmos with Shaun Ryder Bez Andy Bell and NG. Releasing singles but not touring cos members are so busy. None of this has ever interfered with The Who and was never a problem for them . The lie is or would have been that I quit the who- i didn’t. I love the who and everyone in it.

On Sunday, The Who announced that Starkey would NOT be participating in the band’s upcoming farewell tour, The Song is Over, which was announced in early May and is scheduled to begin in August.

The Who’s message states Starkey’s other projects and their demands of his time as the reasoning behind the decision.

This announcement shared by the social media pages of the band and Pete Townshend, says that Scott Devours (who’s toured with Roger Daltrey for his solo project) will be the tour’s drummer (which is what Roger Daltrey wanted all along … Townshend later came forward and said the whole originally firing was just one big misunderstanding and that Starkey was NOT fired from “the touring band” The Who.)

From The Who’s official latest statement:

“The Who are heading for retirement, whereas Zak is 20 years younger and has a great future with his new band and other exciting projects. He needs to devote all his energy into making it all a success. We both wish him all the luck in the world. Scott Devours – Who fans will know him from Roger’s solo shows – will be replacing Zak. We hope all our fans will welcome him.”

Everything printed above was current and true as of the time it was written … but, as we’ve learned, is subject to change at any moment … and for any number of numerous times and reasons.  (I wish I could report that we Won't Be Fooled Again ... but that just doesn't seem to be the case with whatever the heck is going on here!!!)  kk

[I wish I could report that The Kids Are Alright, but it sounds like Pete and Roger are heading out on the Magic Bus with a Substitute on drums this summer, leaving Zak with the Summertime Blues.  I suppose he could proclaim "I'm Free!" ... but he seems to be far from a Happy Jack at this stage ... and who can blame him.  Why they can't just all Join Together for the final blast I Can't Explain.  All I know is that I will never view Roger and Pete the same way again.  What a way to wrap things up.  (PR is clearly NOT your strong suit, guys!)  Cannot help but ask Who Are You???]

The Who have added a second date in Chicago due to an overwhelming demand for tickets.  They will now be appearing here September 7th AND September 9th.

They also announced the various opening acts that will be performing with them on their 2025 North American Farewell Tour.  (NOTE:  As of right now, no UK Farewell Tour has been announced ... that could change, but right now the only plan is to say goodbye to North America.) 

It's a varied list of co-performers on the bill ... 

(we get Joe Bonamassa in Chi-Town!)

See legend below:

with Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters
with ZZ Ward
with Booker T. Jones
with The Joe Perry Project
with Feist
with Tom Cochrane
with Joe Bonamassa
with Candlebox
with Billy Idol 

The Who "The Song Is Over" 2025 North America Tour 

August 16th – Sunrise, FL – Amerant Bank Arena

August 19th – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center

August 21st – Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Center

August 23rd – Atlantic City, NJ – Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall

August 26th – Boston, MA – Fenway Park

August 28th – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater

August 30th – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

September 2nd and 4th – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage 

September 7th and 9th – Chicago, IL – United Center

September 17th and 19th – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl

September 21st – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

September 23rd – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

September 25th – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

September 28th – Las Vegas, NV – MGM Grand Garden Arena

A Monday Morning Quickie

Wait a minute ... let me get this straight ...

Zak Starkey is OUT of The Who again?!?!?

I give up!  (kk)

>>>CHECK THIS OUT ON YOU TUBE -- Every Billboard #1 Hit (1950 - 1959) With Video … T - Tromboybk / 23 Minutes & 38 Seconds.  And If You Want To Go Back Even Further, He Starts With (1940 - 1958) ... Before The Hot 100.  (FB)

Tom Cuddy takes it a step further, chronicling all of Billboard’s #1 Hits thru 1969 …

EVERY BILLBOARD #1 HIT (1960 - 1969) WITH VIDEO

https://youtu.be/cHk77-bhw5Q?si=HNUgj7CXxR1KGXtC

Harvey Kubernik will be discussing his book "1967: A Complete Rock Music History of the Summer of Love" with host Gary Schneider for two-hours on "The Open Mynd Excursion" internet program, Wednesday, May 21st at 9:00 PM (PST).  Harvey will also interact with listeners on the show's chat room during the visit. www.luxuriamusic.com  Harvey is the author of twenty books and previously lectured at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, touting his 1967 title in their Distinguished Speakers Series.

A few people sent us this one ...

Some 50 years ago, who could've envisaged this cover version?

Bob Dylan Debuts the Rick Nelson Classic “Garden Party” 05/15/25 in San Diego, CA 

https://youtu.be/YvDGGCyQwiI?si=eyFTChXP2eMyYKVs

From CB's Secret Fun File of Forgotten Hits Frustrating Fhysics Factoids!

What used to keep Kent up late at night when but a small boy ~~~

 

CB

60 YEARS AGO TODAY:

5/19/65 – FBI Agents visit Wand Records as part of their on-going investigation into the lyrics of “Louie Louie”  (Seriously?!?!  The record has already been off the charts for over a year!!!)