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The Wrecking Crew – Creator/Producer Denny Tedesco talks with Dave Rusch

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After getting an offer at a Niagara Falls dance to play for a traveling band, Denny Tedesco’s father Tommy takes his guitar to L.A and eventually becomes part of the 60’s and 70’s group of studio musicians “The Wrecking Crew”. They played for The Beach Boys, Mamas and Papas, The Byrds, Sonny and Cher, The Monkees, and many more. Several members of the fabled Wrecking Crew went on to careers of their own, like Glen Campbell and Leon Russell.

Denny also touches on his upcoming film “Immediate Family,” featuring back-up band players for 70’s artists Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, Carol King, and James Taylor.

InternetFM app version 1.6 released

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We are pleased to make available a new update to the InternetFM app. It includes several new features, new stations, and updated artwork.

The most important enhance found in this version is the sideways view. Turn your mobile phone 90 degrees to get our horizontal view of the radio dashboard. If you have a pop socket, sit it on a table or desktop. If you have a car adapter, mount it on your dash for a realistic car radio experience.

Customize the horizontal view – arrange the buttons 2 x 3, 3 x 2 or 1 x 6.

Continue to swipe left and right to see more station groups. And don’t forget that you can arrange the station buttons any way your like to include all your favorite stations in one place. Simply press and hold and empty or occupied button to make changes.

Check out how-to video on using the new features.

Today in Rock History – September 3

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donovan-19661966, Donovan went to number one on the US singles chart with “Sunshine Superman,” a number two hit in the UK. The track featured then Yardbird and future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page.

1967, During a 10-date tour of Sweden, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared at the Liseburg in Gothenburg, Sweden.

1968, After a two week absence, Ringo Starr rejoined The Beatles. Upon Ringo’s return to the studio, he found his drum kit covered with flowers to welcome him back.

1969, King Crimson appear at Toby Jug pub in Tolwort, in Southwest London.

1970, Freddie King and Johnny Winter performed at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, California.

1970, Alan Wilson, guitar player with Canned Heat, was found dead at fellow band-member Bob Hite’s garden in Topanga Canyon, Los Angeles aged 27. Canned Heat had the 1970 UK number two and US number 26 single “Let’s Work Together.”

1970, Led Zeppelin performed at the Sports Arena in San Diego, California. A critic for the local newspaper, the Union-Tribune wrote, “The performance was old-time religion without a message and without a moral, although there was plenty that was physical for the congregation of young people. There was the hand clapping, the shouting, the parading in the aisles – and finally there was the self-induced frenzy that was once the trademark of some evangelical religious sects.”

1970, It was reported that the Bob Dylan bootleg album Great White Wonder had sold over 350,000 copies worldwide.

1970, Arthur Brown was arrested at the Palermo Pop ’70 Festival in Italy, after he set fire to his helmet during the performance of his hit “Fire,” and stripped naked on stage.

1971, Led Zeppelin play one night at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Top ticket price was $7.50 (£4.69).

1971, The Allman Brothers band appeared at the Place de Nations in Montreal, Quebec.

1972, David Bowie performed at the Hardrock Concert Theatre, Stretford, in Manchester, England.  The 3000-seat venue hosted some of the biggest names in England during its brief three year existence.

1973, The Rolling Stones appeared at Eisstadion, in Mannheim, Germany.

1974, David Bowie performed at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, California.

1975, An all-star jam session took place at a party in Los Angeles for actor Peter Sellers’ 50th Birthday. The line-up for the group who named themselves the Trading Faces, Bill Wyman on bass, Ronnie Wood, Jesse Ed Davis, and Danny Kortchmar on guitars, Keith Moon, organ and drums, Joe Cocker, vocals, Nigel Olsson, drums, and David Bowie and Bobby Keys on sax.

1976, Marshall Tucker Band played the Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia.

1977, The month after his death, Elvis Presley had 27 albums and 9 singles in the Top 100 charts in the UK. Moody Blue was the number one album while “Way Down” was on top of the singles chart, equaling The Beatles, with each amassing 17 number one hits.

1977, Studio engineer Keith Harwood was killed in a car crash shortly after he left a recording session with The Rolling Stones. Harwood was noted for his work at Olympic Studios with David Bowie, Diamond Dogs, and The Rolling Stones albums It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll and Black And Blue. He also engineered a number of Led Zeppelin albums, including Houses Of The Holy, Physical Graffiti and Presence. The Rolling Stones dedicated their album Love You Live to the memory of Harwood.

zappa-19781978, Frank Zappa, Scorpions, Brand X, John McLaughlin, Ten Years After, Joan Baez, and Genesis appear at  Ludwigsparkstadion in Saarbrücken, Germany.

1979, Van Halen appeared at Kaikan Hall, Kyoto, Japan.

1980, Blue Oyster Cult played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona.

1981, The Allman Brothers Band performed at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado.

1982, The three day US Festival in San Bernardino, California took place featuring, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, The Police, The Cars, Talking Heads, The Kinks, Ramones, B52’s, The English Beat, Gang Of Four, The Grateful Dead, Pat Benatar, Jackson Browne. Apple Computer co-founder Steven Wozniak bankrolled the festival.

 1983, The Eurythmics went to number one on the singles chart with “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This”).

 1988, UB40 had their first number one single with “Red Red Wine.” The song, taken from their album Labour of Love, was a cover of the 1968 Neil Diamond hit song.

1990, R.E.M. started recording sessions for their Out Of Time album at Bearsville Studios, Woodstock, New York.

1991, During a European tour, Nirvana recorded “Dumb,” “Drain You,” and “Endless Nameless” at Maida Vale studios in London for the BBC Radio 1 John Peel show.

2002, The Rolling Stones 40th anniversary Licks tour kicked off at the Fleet Centre Boston. Tickets for the best seats cost $224 (£140). The world tour would see the band playing to over two and a half million fans during over a hundred shows.

2004, Songwriter and producer Billy Davis died in New York after a long illness. He co-wrote Jackie Wilson’s, “Reet Petite” and the jingle “I’d Like To Buy The World A Coke.” Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes and Gladys Knight all recorded his songs.

2010, Mike Edwards, a founding member of ELO, was killed in a freak accident when a giant bale of hay tumbled down a hill and crashed into his van. The 62 year-old cellist died after the 600 kg (1,323 lb) bale rolled down a steep field in Devon, southern England, smashed through a hedge and careered on to the road. Edwards played cello with ELO from their first live gig in 1972 until he left in January 1975. He quit the band in 1975 to become a Buddhist, changing his name to Deva Pramada and making his living by teaching the cello.

Born on this day: Freddie King (1934); Al Jardine, Beach Boys (1942); George Biondi,  Steppenwolf (1945); Eric Bell, Thin Lizzy (1947); Donald Brewer, drummer, Grand Funk Railroad (1948);  Steve Jones, Sex Pistols (1955); Stefan Kendal Gordy, aka DJ Redfoo, LMFAO (1975)

Today in rock history main page

Today in Rock History – August 20

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mccoys1965, The Rolling Stones’ manager Andrew Loog Oldham and his partner Tony Calder launched Immediate records. Their first release was The McCoy’s “Hang On Sloopy.” Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton and Nico  all attended the launch party. The label became the home of The Small Faces, The Nice, Amen Corner and Chris Farlowe and a young producer, guitarist Jimmy Page.

1966, The Beatles, touring America for the last time, were forced to cancel and reschedule their performance in Cincinnati’s open-air stadium, Crosley Field. Heavy rain (and no cover provided) made electrocution a virtual certainty if The Beatles had attempted to perform.

1968, The University of Tennessee reported that a guinea pig subjected to days of rock music played at 120 decibels had suffered acute hearing damage.

1969, After finishing “I Want You, (She’s So Heavy,”) The Beatles worked on the running order for the Abbey Road album. A preliminary master tape was compiled, the medley was originally slated for side one of the album, and the placement of “Octopus’s Garden” and “Oh! Darling” were reversed from the final version. The album was to end with the slashed guitar chord that finishes “I Want You (She’s So Heavy”). This was the last time all four Beatles were together in Abbey Road studios.

1969, Led Zeppelin appeared at The Aerodrome in Schenectady, New York.

1970, Deep Purple performed at the Terrace Ballroom in Salt Lake City, Utah.

1971, On the second night of a North American tour, Led Zeppelin appeared at the Seattle Centre Coliseum, Seattle, Washington.

1971, Ten Years After and Procol Harum appear  at The Forum in Montreal, Quebec.

1972, The Grateful Dead play at the Civic Auditorium in San Jose, California.

1972, Mahavishnu Orchestra appeared at the Montreux Pavillion, Montreux, Switzerland.

1972, David Bowie performed at the Rainbow Theatre in London.

1973, Bruce Springsteen played the first of a seven night run at Oliver’s in Boston, Massachusetts playing two 60-minute sets each night.

1974, REO Speedwagon, Elvin Bishop and the Allman Brothers Band play at Bosse Park in Evansville, Illinois.

1976, Yes performed at the Sports Arena, Toledo, Ohio.

1977, The Emotions started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with “Best Of My Love.” It made it to No.4 in the UK.

1977, Rush plays at the Music Hall, Houston, Texas.

1979, The Allman Brothers Band appeared at the Stanley Theater, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1980, During a North American tour, Queen appeared at the Civic Centre, Hartford, Connecticut.

1980, John Lennon began recording his final album, ‘Double Fantasy’. It would be released on November 17th by the newly-formed Geffen Records and would win the 1982 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

1981, Blue Oyster Cult played at Queensway Hall, Dunstable, England.

1982, King Crimson and Roxy Music appeared at Belenenes, Lisbon, Portugal.

1983, Madness, Joan Jett, The Police and R.E.M. all appeared at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.

1986, Rick Allen drummer with Def Leppard made his first live appearance with the band after losing an arm in a car accident, when they appeared at the Monsters Of Rock Festival, Castle Donington, England.

1988, Steve Winwood went to No.1 on the US album chart with his fifth solo album Roll With It. The title cut also topped the US singles charts.

1988, Iron Maiden, Kiss, David Lee Roth, Megadeth, Guns N’ Roses and Helloween all appeared at the Monsters Of Rock Festival, Castle Donington, England. Two rock fans died while slam dancing as Guns N’ Roses played.

1990, Aerosmith appeared at the Marquee Club London. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page joined the band on stage for a blues jam.

1991, Nirvana and Sonic Youth kicked off a joint European tour at Sir Henry’s Pub, Cork, Ireland.

2006, The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at Twickenham Stadium on their A Bigger Bang world tour. Feeder and The Charlatans also appeared.

2007, The funeral of Manchester music mogul and broadcaster, Tony Wilson was held at St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Manchester. Peter Hook and Stephen Morris, two members of first Factory signing Joy Division, as well as a later band, New Order, attended along with Happy Mondays front man, Shaun Ryder.

Born on August 20: Jim Reeves, US country singer (1924); Dave Brock, Hawkwind (1941), Isaac Hayes (1942); James Pankow, Trombone, Chicago (1947); Robert Plant (1948); and Phil Lynott Irish singer, songwriter, bass player, Thin Lizzy (1949)

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The Days Between – Celebrating Jerry Garcia

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Among Grateful Dead fans “The Days Between” is not just one of the last songs from the Hunter/Garcia repertoire, but its has also come to symbolize the time between the date of the Jerry Garcia’s birth (August 1st, 1942) and the anniversary of his death on August 9, 1995.

See below for the special Psychedelic Time Warp tribute to Jerry Garcia

David Dodd in his blog post describes it, ““Days Between,” a late song in the Robert Hunter / Jerry Garcia songbook, was perhaps their last collaboration on a big, significant song, one that ranks with “Dark Star” and “Terrapin Station” as ambitious and intentionally grand. (I was talking the other day with a friend, about Garcia’s playing and songwriting, and the thought came up that Garcia, like few others, was unafraid of grandeur, and could successfully pull it off. Same with Hunter.)

“It was first performed on February 22, 1993, at the Oakland Coliseum Arena, the middle show of a three-night run. The night before, they had premiered three other new songs: “Eternity,” “Lazy River Road,” and “Liberty.” Its final performance was on June 24, 1995, at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. During its relatively short time in the live repertoire, they played it 41 times, always in the second set, and fairly frequently rising out of the Drums.  It appeared like the ghostly ships it describes, as if gradually from a fog and only slowly revealing itself as something very big, towering above everything around. “

Older Deadheads may remember August 9th as vividly as November 23, 1963. To younger fans, this may have been the first of many iconic music legend deaths along with Lou Reed and David Bowie.

We present the two hour tribute show from Psychedelic Time Warp, heard weekly on Acid Flashback Radio.

Hour 1

Hour 2

As a bonus, here’s a Spotify playlist of select Jerry Garcia music from throughout his career, including collaborations with Merl Saunders, David Grisman, and Old & In The Way.

Today In Rock History – July 4

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1959: Bobby Darin’s hit “Dream Lover” tops the UK chart. The track, which would reach the second postion in the US, includes Neil Sedaka on piano.

1964: “I Get Around” becomes the first US number one single for The Beach Boys. In the UK, it would be the band’s first Top Ten hit, reaching number 7. The B-side of the single was “Don’t Worry Baby”, which itself charted in 24th place in America. Although all of the Beach Boys either played or sang on the record, noted session man Hal Blaine was brought in to play drums.

1966: The Beatles were booed by fans at the airport in Manila, Philippines after they failed to make a private appearance before President Marcos, his wife and 300 Filipino children. The group claims they were not told of the engagement. Marcos then makes a statement regretting the airport incident. After paying taxes on their gate receipts, the band leaves the country, vowing never to return.

1969: Grand Funk Railroad performs at the Atlanta Pop Festival in Hampton, Georgia. Capitol Records executives see the band at the show and later sign them to a record deal. Also performing were Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Winter, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Delaney and Bonnie, Chuck Berry, Spirit, Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, and Paul Butterfield.

1970: The 3-day Atlanta Pop Festival opens at Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia before a crowd of 200,000. Jimi Hendrix played his feedback filled version of “The Star Spangled Banner”. Two days later, Georgia Governor Lester Maddox says he will seek legislation to ban all Rock festivals in the state.

1973: Slade drummer Don Powell was badly injured in a car crash in which his girlfriend was killed.

1974: Steely Dan’s Walter Becker and Donald Fagan play their final gig together in Santa Monica, CA. The split occurs even though they have the number four song in the US with “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” and a current Platinum album with “Pretzel Logic”, California. They would not tour again for the next eighteen years.

1976: Paul Revere is married at King’s Island Amusement Park in Cincinnati on the fourth of July, on America’s Bicentennial.

1976: The Clash made their live debut supporting the Sex Pistols at the Black Swan, in Sheffield, England.

1976: Elton John and Kiki Dee’s “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” is released in the US, where it will reach #1.

1980: The Beach Boys perform at a free Fourth of July concert attended by an edtimated 500,000 people in Washington, D.C.

1982: Diana Ross kicks off her first world solo tour with a concert at Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. The opening act was Miles Davis.

1982: Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne marries Sharon Arden, daughter of music promoter and rock and roll entrepreneur, Don Arden. His drummer, Tommy Aldridge, serves as Best Man.

1983: Crooner Wayne Newton replaced The Beach Boys at the White House Fourth of July party after US Interior Secretary James Watt deemed the band “unsuitable” for the occasion because they attracted the wrong element. First Lady Nancy Reagan felt differently, and hired the group to play a private performance at the executive mansion.

1984: The Beach Boys are joined by Ringo Starr on drums, John Lodge and Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues on guitars as well as Cory Wells, Chuck Negron and Danny Hutton of Three Dog Night during an Independence Day concert in Washington D.C. The all star ensemble rocked their way through “Back In The U.S.S.R.”, “Good Vibrations”, “Help Me Rhonda” and “Fun Fun Fun”. Wolfman Jack was the emcee for the event that also included America, Hank Williams Jr., La Toya Jackson The O’Jays and Julio Iglesias.

1986: The second Farm Aid benefit concert took place at Manor Downs Racetrack, Manor, Texas. Held to raise money for family farmers in the US, the concerts were organized by Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp and Neil Young. Artists who appeared included: Alabama, The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Emmylou Harris, Jason & the Scorchers, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, Vince Neil and Willie Nelson. The first Farm Aid concert was held in September 1985 in Champaign, Illinois.

1987: The Grateful Dead appeared at Sullivan Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

1989: The Grateful Dead performed a 21-song concert at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.

2001 – Madonna sells out all 80,000 tickets to her concerts at London’s Earl’s Court arena in just four hours.

2001: A US federal judge orders file sharing service Napster to cease all operations.

2003: R & B star Barry White, known for his lush baritone voice and “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love” and “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything”, passed away at the age of 58.

2005: U2 won a court battle for the return of items of memorabilia, including a Stetson hat which they accused a former stylist of stealing. Judge Matthew Deery at Dublin’s Circuit Court ordered Lola Cashman to return the items, which also include earrings, within seven days. Ms Cashman, had worked as the band’s stylist during the 1980s and wrote an unauthorized book called Inside the Zoo.

2007: Bill Pinkney, the last surviving member of the original Drifters passed away at the age of 81.

2009: Drake Levin, the lead guitarist for Paul Revere And The Raiders on their early hits that included “Steppin’ Out”, “Just Like Me” and “Kicks”, died of cancer at the age of 62.

2009: 77-year-old Allen Klein, the former manager of The Rolling Stones and later The Beatles, died after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The assets of his company, ABKCO Music & Records, include recordings by The Rolling Stones, The Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Bobby Womack, The Kinks, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell and many others.

2012: Bonhams of London announced that Freddie Mercury’s black and white harlequin stage costume had sold for £22,500 at their Entertainment Memorabilia sale. The harlequin costume was one of Freddie’s most recognisable stage designs, which he wore at a number of high-profile concerts in the 1970s. Also a pair of Freddie’s ballet pumps went for £4,000 to an overseas internet bidder. Freddie had worn the white leather ballet shoes during Queen’s legendary Hyde Park performance in 1976.

2013: Barry Manilow sang “Let Freedom Ring” and Neil Diamond sang his fan favorite anthem “Sweet Caroline” in celebration of The Fourth Of July at the National Mall in Washington D.C.

2013: After years of feuding over the right to use the name The Doors, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore announced that they would come together one last time to honor keyboardist Ray Manzarek, who died from cancer in May at the age of 74.

2015: Blur’s Damon Albarn was removed from stage at the Roskilde festival in Denmark after a five-hour set. The singer who was headlining the event with his Africa Express project encouraged the crowd to protest at the plug being pulled. The stage manager emerged, put the singer’s jacket over his shoulders and lifted him off stage.

2015: Bob Weir, along surviving members of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann, and Phil Lesh, play the second night of Fare Thee Well, a three-show engagement to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the band. They are joined by special guests Bruce Hornsby, Jeff Chimenti, and Phish’s Trey Anastasio.

Born on July 4: Mitch Miller, conductor (1911); Bill Withers, singer-songwriter (1938); Dave Rowberry, English pianist and organist, The Animals (1940); Alan Wilson, guitar, harmonica, vocals, Canned Heat (1943); Jeremy Spencer, guitar, Fleetwood Mac (1948); Ralph Johnson, drummer, Earth, Wind & Fire (1951); John Waite, vocals, guitar, bass, The Babys (1952); Kirk Pengilly, guitarist, INXS (1958); Matt Malley, bass, Counting Crows (1963); Andy Creeggan, piano, Barenaked Ladies (1971); Post Malone, rapper, singer, songwriter, producer (1995)

Ringo Starr To Celebrate 80th Birthday With Starr Studded Charity Broadcast

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Ringo Starr announced “Ringo’s Big Birthday Show,” a broadcast to benefit 4 charities: Black Lives Matter Global Network, the David Lynch Foundation, Musicares and WaterAid. It will air on Ringo’s YouTube at 5pm PDT on July 7, 2020, Starr’s 80th birthday. The show will include unique home performances as well as never before seen concert footage from Starr, Paul McCartney and Joe Walsh as well as Gary Clark Jr, Sheryl Crow, Sheila E and Ben Harper and more. 

“As everyone knows I love gathering with fans for peace and love on my birthday. But this year, I want everyone to be safe at home –  so I called up a few friends and we put this Big Birthday Show together so we could still celebrate my birthday with you all, with some great music for some great charities. I hope you will all join me! Peace and Love, Ringo.” 

The broadcast will also feature the premiere of a guest star version of Ringo’s “Give More Love” that was created to benefit Musicares and features Jeff Bridges, Jackson Browne, T Bone Burnette, Elvis Costello, Rodney Crowell, Steve Earle, Peter Frampton, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Keb Mo and Willie Nelson. Additionally there will be a playlist of unique tribute performances on Ringo’s YouTube channel. This will include musicians who have previously recorded Ringo’s songs, performances from past birthday celebrations as well as some new versions which artists will be posting on their socials. 

Look for musical tributes from Ben Folds, Ben Dickey, Bettye LaVette, Colin Hay, Elvis Costello, Gregg Rolie, Judy Collins, Peter Frampton, Richard Marx, Steve Earle, Steve Lukather and many more. While Ringo won’t be gathering with family, friends and fans at Capitol Records this year for his birthday, he invites everyone everywhere to think, say or post #peaceandlove at Noon their local time on July 7th.

Eleven of the Best Rock Concerts I Have Attended

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I have been fortunate to go to a lot of rock concerts in my lifetime. Considering what tickets cost today, those old ducats from the seventies and eighties turned out to be pretty good deals. Most of those ticket prices were under twenty bucks. The late seventies concerts were all under ten dollars. Compared to today’s prices, those old shows were an absolute bargain. I’ve seen a lot of artists that are no longer with us, such as Jerry Garcia, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gregg Allman, Lou Reed, Keith Emerson, Freddie Mercury, BB King, and Jaco Pastorius, the great bass player for Weather Report. Other than completing artists or bands on my bucket list, I’m not too keen anymore to shell out big bucks being charged today.  In many cases I’d rather see up and coming artists in small venues, or good cover bands in clubs.

This is compilation of some of the most outstanding performances I’ve personally witnessed to date.  The Fleetwood Mac concert in March 1977 would have been included, but I’ve written about that show already.  That story is linked here, so it was omitted from this list.

James Taylor – Carmichael Auditorium – Chapel Hill –  March 3, 1982

This was JT’s triumphant return to his hometown. Taylor’s father was a professor at the UNC School of Medicine, ultimately becoming the school’s dean,  Rumors had been circulating for years that Taylor had no desire to perform in the Chapel Hill. Supposedly, the author of “Carolina In Mind” had too many bad memories from his adolescence here, that fueled his depression and subsequent drug addiction. Thus, he avoiding performing in the area. However, he received a hero’s welcome, the audience went nuts, and Taylor fed off the vibe.  Carmichael was not particularly known for its acoustics, but never sounded better. JT even improvised the lyrics to “You’ve Got a Friend” to include a reference to local Highway 15-501 that connects Durham and Chapel Hill.

 

Queen – Greensboro Coliseum – North Carolina – August 14, 1980

At the time, Queen was one of the hottest bands in the world. They were touring in support of their ninth studio album, “The Game” which would top the album charts in both the US and UK. If you’ve ever seen video from a Queen concert of that period, you see what an incredible performer Freddie Mercury was. He pranced. He danced, he played and sang. We had no idea that he would be gone eleven years later.  But that night, he owned the place with an 27-song epic set.

Setlist: Jailhouse Rock, We Will Rock You, Let Me Entertain You, Need Your Loving Tonight, Play the Game, Mustapha, Death on Two Legs (Dedicated to…), Killer Queen, I’m in Love With My Car, Somebody to Love, Get Down Make Love, You’re My Best Friend, Save Me, Now I’m Here, Fat Bottomed Girls, Love of My Life, Keep Yourself Alive, Drum & Guitar Solos, Brighton Rock, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Bohemian Rhapsody, Tie Your Mother Down; Encore: Sheer Heart Attack, We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions, God Save The Queen

 

R.E.M. – NC Benefit for Africa – Meredith College – May 27, 1985

In the wake of Live Aid, a lot of Africa relief concerts took place. One was organized at a beautiful outdoor amphitheater at Meredith College in Raleigh. The show featured seven or eight popular bands local with R.E.M. as the headliner.  They were gracious enough to allow the fledgling UNC Student Television to film their performance, which featured songs from the soon-to-be-released third album “Fables of the Reconstruction.” Don Dixon, whose band Arrogance also graced the stage that day, and was a producer on their first two albums, joined the band for “Don’t Go Back To Rockville” and a cover of “Wild Thing.”

Complete show:

https://youtu.be/y0VrM-qYnkw

 

Paul Simon – Civic Opera House – Chicago – March 13, 1987

Simon brought his Graceland tour to Chicago’s historic, art deco Opera House.  Simon, and his band, along with Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo played songs from the Grammy award winning album. It was a perfect setting for the acapella music, rhythmic dancing, and solo music by the South African artists. The 3500-seat auditorium may not be small compared to the club scene, but it’s far more intimate than the ten thousand plus seat amphitheaters and concert halls favored by rock stars.

U2 – Rosemont Horizon – Rosemont, IL – April 29, 1987

This was my first U2 concert, having missed another epic show which took place at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill four years earlier. The Rosemont show more than made up for it. The band had graced the cover of Time magazine two days earlier with the headline, “Rock’s Hottest Ticket,” and the show has become synonymous with that epithet. It remains a very popular U2 fan bootleg, which is surprising since the arena is not known for its acoustics. But the band and the audience connected, and the rest is history.

Frank Zappa – Auditorium Theatre – Chicago – March 4, 1988

One of the most underrated musical geniuses of all time brought his satirical Broadway the Hard Way tour to Chicago’s palatial Auditorium Theatre. Zappa loved to skewer anything and everything musically. His target this time was the disgraced  preacher Jimmy Swaggert. Using a medley of  Beatles songs and his lyrics, Zappa proceeded to eviscerate the televangelist in song. In addition, he brought Sting onstage, and they played “Murder by Numbers,” a Police song. Even better, he tossed some Zeppelin and Allman Brothers into the mix that magical evening.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/frank-zappa/1988/auditorium-theatre-chicago-il-5bd0ef74.html

Neville Brothers – Skyline Stage,  Navy Pier – Chicago – May 27, 1989

One of  New Orleans’ best known musical families kicked off a series of “twilight concerts” at the recently renovated Skyline Ballroom in the summer of 1989.  They were on tour to promote their fourth studio album “Yellow Moon.” Even though the show was broadcast live on radio station WXRT, it was still a hot ticket. Anyone who was there can attest as to what a great vibe there was in the room. The band dug it also and played beyond their allotted time as the crowd urged them on.

 

Stevie Ray Vaughn / Jeff Beck – UIC Pavilion – Chicago – October 28, 1989

This was the first of two times I was fortunate enough to see SRV in concert. The second show was his final performance, the night he perished in a tragic helicopter accident. The tour was dubbed “The Fire Meets The Fury.” Beck and Vaughn traded opening slots on a 29-date tour. For me this show is as noteworthy for what happened afterwards. On the chance that Vaughn might make a post concert appearance at one of the local blues clubs, something he was known for, my buddy Otis and I went to Kingston Mines. SRV did go to a blues club, but not the Mines. He was spotted at Buddy Guy’s southside establishment. However, we did meet Buddy Miles, and and we hung out all night with the former member of Jimi Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys and Carlos Santana collaborator.

Here’s a video of Beck and Vaughn from the Chicago show

https://youtu.be/84_UvByGDkM

The Grateful Dead – Pine Knob Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI – June 20, 1991

I was lucky enough to see the Dead fifty times between 1985 and Jerry Garcia’s last show in July, 1995. As any Deadhead will tell you, no two Grateful Dead shows are alike.  The venue, the tour, the year, the people, and the vibe made every performance a unique event. City arena shows were very different than outdoor amphitheaters in remote locations like Alpine Valley, or Pine Knob, forty miles outside of Detroit.  What made this particular show memorable for me (and many others) was the song order of the second set, which seemed to go in reverse of a typical second set with “Throwing Stones” as the opening salvo. “All Along the Watchtower” and “Iko-Iko are presented outside of their normal settings, before the lengthy set closes with a reprise of “Throwing Stones” and Buddy Holly’s “Not Fade Away,” followed by an encore of the fan favorite “Brokedown Palace.”

Set 1: Touch of Grey, Greatest Story Ever Told, El Paso, Mexicali Blues > Maggie’s Farm, Bird Song

Set 2: Throwing Stones, Iko Iko, All Along The Watchtower, Standing On the Moon, He’s Gone > Drums > Space > The Wheel > I Need A Miracle > Walkin’ Blues > Throwing Stones > Not Fade Away, E: Brokedown Palace

 

Phish – Biddy Mulligan’s – Chicago – April 13, 1991

When the discussion turns to talk about the best band I saw in a small venue, this is my show to brag about. One of my Deadhead friends from New England kept raving about this band from Vermont, so I promised to see their next show in Chicago. Little did I know they’d be packing arenas and amphitheaters for years to come. Biddys was relatively small club on the far north side of town, almost at the Evanston border. From the early seventies until its demise in 2003, the club featured a lot of the local blues greats like Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Guy, along with national talent like Wishbone Ash, Eric Burdon, and Blues Traveler. I remember seeing Leon Russell there. The posted capacity was 400, and I’m sure there were at least 500 folks that chilly April evening. The place was jam packed, and I was lucky to get a spot near the soundboard. The set was a mix of songs from 1990’s “Lawn Boy” and the yet to be released “A Picture of Nectar.” Most memorable for me was the inclusion of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” as the show closer. I haven’t attended a Phish concert since, because I’m not sure it could ever surpass that experience.

 

Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens – Oriental Theatre – Chicago – September 30, 2016

After a near death experience in 1976, this musical treasure of the late sixties and early seventies converted to Islam, and stopped performing for nearly thirty years. Songs like “Moonshadow,” “Peace Train,” and “Wild World” were soft rock and FM radio staples. When he finally returned to touring, I put him at the top of my concert bucket list.  The time off has kept his remarkable voice nearly intact, and he not only played his hits, but told the stories behind the songs, and delved into his musical catalog for some deep gems. The whole show was his life story, complete with a stage set recreating the small room above his parents restaurant in the London of his youth.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/yusuf-islam/2016/oriental-theatre-chicago-il-3bfdcc5c.html

 

Honorable mentions:

David Byrne – Arie Crown Theatre – Chicago – September 1992
Tom Tom Club – Paradiso – Amsterdam – April 2001
Prince – Super Bowl Halftime Show – Miami – February 2007
Steve Miller Band – Ravinia Festival – July 2009
Brian Wilson – Ravinia Festival – July 2013
Allman Brothers Band – Chicago Theatre – August 2013

Living with the new normal in the age of Covid-19

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“Do you miss sports?” That is the question I get asked most frequently in the new era of stay-at-home. The Covid-19 new normal.

Friends and family know that I spent part of the past twenty-five years covering the NFL, NBA, MLB and college sports. 

“Not really,” I say without hesitation. The callers pause to let that fact sink in. The truth is, during the last decade, I have been quietly re-inventing myself. 

In addition to digesting the television coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been tending to my online radio station – a hobby of sorts that I launched in 2012. It mostly ran itself, using software, while I searched for an audience for the free form rock format.

My first foray into broadcasting was in 1977. It was a small 500-watt sunrise to sunset, top-forty AM station in a small North Carolina town. Everything was done live – playing records, reading the news, even some of the commercials. 

These days most disc jockeys pre-record their announcements. It’s efficient, allowing a four-hour show to be produced in less than an hour. It also enables one personality to be present in radio markets all across the country. 

I could have continued doing something similar. Instead I decided to return to my radio roots. Four hours a day, five days a week, from 10 AM to 2 PM Central time, I’m in my home studio in the Chicago suburbs. Live. Nothing taped. Sans safety net. Although the songs are all digitized, the announcements are in real time. I’ve reached out to friends and broadcast colleagues who have joined me via Skype or phone. Even my adult son has been pitching in, covering some of the hours with new music not in our standard playlist.

So far it’s been a tremendous success. We’ve had Albert Bouchard, co-founder of 1970’s multi-platinum recording artists Blue Öyster Cult. College acquaintances, current friends, and listeners all contribute. The rep for another chart-topping songwriter has offered to arrange for his client to join us. 

Fridays belong to the listeners. Our audience encompasses all fifty states and 136 different countries. We asked for themed song requests and the listeners responded with very creative ideas. 

The feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Thank yous and appreciation for the diversion from the steady stream of Covid-19 news. “Really dig the whole show,” wrote one listener. “One of the perks of work from home, I get to blast the station all day. ” 

We plan to keep the phones and email open as long as the stay-at-home order is in place. And then maybe who knows. We might have stumbled into something.

The rest of the day? Some of that is preparing for the next day’s broadcast. Finding songs that aren’t already in the library. Organizing the music into something that resembles a show (as opposed to random tunes.) Watching some of the TV news coverage. And when that gets too monotonous? Binging shows of course. The challenge is finding something that everyone is willing to watch. My wife likes reality shows, which I abhor. She has no interest in two of my favorites “The Walking Dead” or “Homeland.” 

We settled on “Outlander”, the historical drama television series based on the novel series of the same name by Diana Gabaldon. It was created by Ronald D. Moore, screenwriter for Star Trek, the Next Generation and the Battlestar Galactica reboot. The show checks off time travel/sci fi for me and romantic drama for her. It’s available on Netflix and has been a wonderfully fun watch so far. 

Additional entertainment has come from our DVD collection. Yes, we still have a lot of movies around. So far we have watched “Accepted” and “Murder By Death” from my Ten Underrated Comedies List and “The Social Network”. 

It sure has been a long week.

Acid Flashback goes Live!

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Starting the week of March 23rd, we are going retro – no voice tracks, no safety net – and will be live in the Acid Flashback studios from 10 AM until 2 PM Central Time (11ET, 8 PT).

So for folks who have to stay at home during the Covid-19 crisis, you can turn the sound down on the television, and crank up the Acid Flashback feed.

We are going to be joined live by friends and a few celebs, including Albert Bouchard, co-founder and drummer for Blue Oyster Cult. Al will be playing some of his favorite B.O.C. and rock tracks, starting at high noon ET on Tuesday March 24th.

Also on tap are Bart Shore from WLIT and Michael Damsky of WLS and WXRT here in Chicago. Our long time colleague “Packer” Dave Rusch will be joining us as well, to play some of his favorites like AC/DC, Guns & Roses, Yes, Foo Fighters, and KISS.

Listeners will be able to call in, chat via Discord, or tweet their comments and requests. We will be happy to make long distance dedications for the audience. All in an effort to provide alternate entertainment during this difficult time.

Download the InternetFM app. Listen to Acid Flashback on the website, TuneIn, or iTunes radio.