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Christmas Wishes
This has been a fun group with some fun people. I hope everyone has a happy, peaceful and healthy holiday and let's hope 2008 is a great year. Here are three Christmas wishes from me to all of you...
1) Peace, joy, love, no war, no killing, no hunger and happiness for all
2) New releases in 2008 from Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Steeley Dan, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and too many more to mention.
3) I wish some music person somewhere would find a lost volume of tapes featuring Hendrix, Clapton and Duane Allman jamming for hours and hours and hours.....and post it in the internet for free.
Merry Christmas!
1) Peace, joy, love, no war, no killing, no hunger and happiness for all
2) New releases in 2008 from Bob Dylan, The Allman Brothers, Steeley Dan, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, and too many more to mention.
3) I wish some music person somewhere would find a lost volume of tapes featuring Hendrix, Clapton and Duane Allman jamming for hours and hours and hours.....and post it in the internet for free.
Merry Christmas!
Welcome Back Ultra!
We've missed you. Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better. It's not the same without you around here.
Clapton
Has anybody read Clapton's autobiography yet? I've been thinking about getting it but wanted to know if any music fans had read it. Anybody?
Bobby Hatfield
I just wanted to say, with absolutely no slight to any other vocalists, the great Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers died this week in 2003 at the age of 63. His soul-wrenching vocals on the 1965 hit, "Unchained Melody" remain one of the greatest rock/blues/pop performances of all time. We miss you Bobby.
Trivia Answers
OK – the answers
1) Which rock and roll star’s real name is Declan McManus?
Answer – Elvis Costello
2) Which single-named female vocalist was a backup singer on The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”?
Answer - Cher
3) Which pioneer country rock band played backup on Steve Martin’s “King Tut” single in 1970?
Answer – The Nitty Grity Dirt Band
4) Who played kazoo on Ringo Starr's 1974 version of "You're Sixteen".
Answer – Paul McCartney
5) According to legend, who gave Ringo Starr his nickname of “Ringo”?
Answer – Band leader Rory Storm
6) By what name do we know Annie Mae Bullock?
Answer – Tina Turner
7) Why will the name Robert Todd Storz forever live in Rock and Roll infamy?
Answer – He was the creator and pioneer of the Top 40 radio format
8) Which rock and roll band has a cameo appearance in Back To The Future III?
Answer – ZZ Top
1) Which rock and roll star’s real name is Declan McManus?
Answer – Elvis Costello
2) Which single-named female vocalist was a backup singer on The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”?
Answer - Cher
3) Which pioneer country rock band played backup on Steve Martin’s “King Tut” single in 1970?
Answer – The Nitty Grity Dirt Band
4) Who played kazoo on Ringo Starr's 1974 version of "You're Sixteen".
Answer – Paul McCartney
5) According to legend, who gave Ringo Starr his nickname of “Ringo”?
Answer – Band leader Rory Storm
6) By what name do we know Annie Mae Bullock?
Answer – Tina Turner
7) Why will the name Robert Todd Storz forever live in Rock and Roll infamy?
Answer – He was the creator and pioneer of the Top 40 radio format
8) Which rock and roll band has a cameo appearance in Back To The Future III?
Answer – ZZ Top
Trivia Fun
Let’s have some trivia fun. Bragging rights only, but anyone can post or answer. Tough questions are encouraged. The only limitations – they need to be about rock and roll.
1) Which rock and roll star’s real name is Declan McManus?
2) Which single-named female vocalist was a backup singer on The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”?
3) Which pioneer country rock band played backup on Steve Martin’s “King Tut” single in 1970?
4) Who played kazoo on Ringo Starr's 1974 version of "You're Sixteen".
5) According to legend, who gave Ringo Starr his nickname of “Ringo”?
6) By what name do we know Annie Mae Bullock?
7) Why will the name Robert Todd Storz forever live in Rock and Roll infamy?
8) Which rock and roll band has a cameo appearance in Back To The Future III?
1) Which rock and roll star’s real name is Declan McManus?
2) Which single-named female vocalist was a backup singer on The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling”?
3) Which pioneer country rock band played backup on Steve Martin’s “King Tut” single in 1970?
4) Who played kazoo on Ringo Starr's 1974 version of "You're Sixteen".
5) According to legend, who gave Ringo Starr his nickname of “Ringo”?
6) By what name do we know Annie Mae Bullock?
7) Why will the name Robert Todd Storz forever live in Rock and Roll infamy?
8) Which rock and roll band has a cameo appearance in Back To The Future III?
Southern Rock Bands and Drummers
As you can tell from my photo, I’m a drummer. Also, I’m a drummer who likes Southern Rock. Having grown up in Florida I was lucky enough to meet some of the founders of Southern Rock, many of whom were working in the same areas I did during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.
Here are some of my favorite Southern Rock bands, and their drummers. You have to be a rock-solid, kick-ass drummer to drive some of these bands.
I’d be interested in any of your favorites. This is some great music.
Butch Trucks and "Jaimoe" Johanson of The Allman Brothers Band
Artimus Pyle and Bob Burns of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Doug “Cosmo” Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revival
Frank Beard of ZZ Top (the only one without a beard)
Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Matt Abts of Gov't Mule
Monte Yoho of The Outlaws
Mark Herndon of Alabama
Butch McDade of The Amazing Rhythm Aces
Stan Lynch of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Here are some of my favorite Southern Rock bands, and their drummers. You have to be a rock-solid, kick-ass drummer to drive some of these bands.
I’d be interested in any of your favorites. This is some great music.
Butch Trucks and "Jaimoe" Johanson of The Allman Brothers Band
Artimus Pyle and Bob Burns of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Doug “Cosmo” Clifford of Creedence Clearwater Revival
Frank Beard of ZZ Top (the only one without a beard)
Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
Matt Abts of Gov't Mule
Monte Yoho of The Outlaws
Mark Herndon of Alabama
Butch McDade of The Amazing Rhythm Aces
Stan Lynch of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
MOVIE MUSICIAN CLICHES
I get a real kick out of watching how films portray musicians. It’s about as real as how athletes, police, priests, students, soldiers, aliens….or anybody else gets shown. Musicians are presented as a series of clichés, most of which illustrate the fact that most filmmakers have absolutely no idea of how musicians, or ordinary people live their lives.
Here’s a few of my favorite movie musician clichés.
Musicians in films are always in mental and emotional turmoil, apparently as part of being a suffering artist. The better the musician, the more mentally unstable they are.
Musicians carry their instrument with them everywhere, out of the case, and in one hand like a loaf of bread. They are ready to play at a moment’s notice, which often happens. A music number can break out anywhere, especially in the street where dozens of impromptu dancers will appear.
Movie musicians always have some sort of substance abuse problem, usually alcohol or one of the narcotics that are always readily available backstage. Oddly enough, there is a “backstage” even if there is no stage.
Movie musicians live in small, cramped, barely furnished one room apartments with a single bed, one dresser, a chair, a music stand or upright piano and a neon sign flashing outside the window.
When musicians play together, even if they have never met, they instinctively know complex arrangements, chord changes, tempo changes, four and five song medleys as well as several verses of lyrics. The key of a song is never discussed nor specified.
When a backup band is playing a song they have never heard (often written by the hero) the instructions “watch me” are sufficient to guarantee a perfect performance.
If there is ever a fight, the combatants will inevitably wind up falling into the drums. The cymbals will fall over with a literal crash. The rest of the drums will collapse and roll around the stage.
The acoustics in small, cramped bars are always exceptional. Every patron can hear every note, even while carrying on a conversation. All musicians on stage can hear perfectly. There is always plenty of space, ventilation, electrical outlets, lighting and facilities for the largest or smallest band.
The typical set for a movie musician is one song, after which the band takes a break and the hero musician heads off into the crowd for accolades.
Nobody is ever out of tune, or too loud. No instrument ever malfunctions. The PA is always perfectly EQ’d and there is never any feedback. Pianos can sit in a corner for decades and remain in tune, functioning perfectly.
Here’s a few of my favorite movie musician clichés.
Musicians in films are always in mental and emotional turmoil, apparently as part of being a suffering artist. The better the musician, the more mentally unstable they are.
Musicians carry their instrument with them everywhere, out of the case, and in one hand like a loaf of bread. They are ready to play at a moment’s notice, which often happens. A music number can break out anywhere, especially in the street where dozens of impromptu dancers will appear.
Movie musicians always have some sort of substance abuse problem, usually alcohol or one of the narcotics that are always readily available backstage. Oddly enough, there is a “backstage” even if there is no stage.
Movie musicians live in small, cramped, barely furnished one room apartments with a single bed, one dresser, a chair, a music stand or upright piano and a neon sign flashing outside the window.
When musicians play together, even if they have never met, they instinctively know complex arrangements, chord changes, tempo changes, four and five song medleys as well as several verses of lyrics. The key of a song is never discussed nor specified.
When a backup band is playing a song they have never heard (often written by the hero) the instructions “watch me” are sufficient to guarantee a perfect performance.
If there is ever a fight, the combatants will inevitably wind up falling into the drums. The cymbals will fall over with a literal crash. The rest of the drums will collapse and roll around the stage.
The acoustics in small, cramped bars are always exceptional. Every patron can hear every note, even while carrying on a conversation. All musicians on stage can hear perfectly. There is always plenty of space, ventilation, electrical outlets, lighting and facilities for the largest or smallest band.
The typical set for a movie musician is one song, after which the band takes a break and the hero musician heads off into the crowd for accolades.
Nobody is ever out of tune, or too loud. No instrument ever malfunctions. The PA is always perfectly EQ’d and there is never any feedback. Pianos can sit in a corner for decades and remain in tune, functioning perfectly.
Atlanta Pop Festival - 1969
Anybody remember this festival? It was a month or so before Woodstock and was a great show. I covered it for the Tampa Tribune, and got to see BS&T, Led Zeppelin, Joe Cocker, Janis Joplin, Johnny Winter, Spirit, Ten Wheel Drive, Booker T and the MG's, and many, many more. Vendors were handing out flyers for Woodstock. Wish I still had a few of those!
Top 20 All-Time Bands
Here’s my version of the Top 20 bands (I just couldn’t bring it down to 10). I put them in my order of greatest (number 1) on down. These bands primarily functioned as a group, versus solo acts with backup instruments. Longevity counts as well as creativity and impact on fans as well as other musicians. Everybody, I think, has such a list in their brain, and everybody’s is likely different. Here’s mine. Who’s next?
The Beatles
James Brown and the Famous Flames
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Rolling Stones
Beach Boys
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
The Who
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
The Eagles
Cream
Parliament/Funkadelic
Allman Brothers Band
The Police
Nirvana
Derek and the Dominos
Chicago
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Queen
The Band
The Beatles
James Brown and the Famous Flames
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Rolling Stones
Beach Boys
Led Zeppelin
Pink Floyd
The Who
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention
The Eagles
Cream
Parliament/Funkadelic
Allman Brothers Band
The Police
Nirvana
Derek and the Dominos
Chicago
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Queen
The Band
