I recently discovered a two-CD download of “Caesar” demos for Ween’s eighth album, “Quebec,” that was released by Mickey Melchiondo (aka Dean Ween) on his facebook page a few years ago. “Caesar” was the original title for “Quebec,” and the demos were recorded while drummer Claude Coleman was recuperating after his near fatal car accident […]
Today in Rock History – April 1
1966, The Troggs recorded “Wild Thing” at Regent Sound Studio in London. The song went on to be a chart topping US and number two UK hit in June the following year. 1966, The Who and The Yardbirds appear together in a live French edition of Ready, Steady GO! called, appropriately, Ready, Steady, Allez! According […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “I Just Started Hating Some People Today” by Beck
While it’s been four years since Beck released his last album, “Modern Guilt,” he has hardly been idle. In 2009 Beck started a website experiment called “Record Club” where he and other musicians would get together and cover an entire album in one day. The first one was “The Velvet Underground & Nico,” the second […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Funtime” by Iggy Pop
“FUN! We want some! We want some!” Words to live by from the Iggster with an assist from David Bowie. Bowie came along to offer a little career rehab for Iggy whilst meanwhile rehabbing his own addictions of the time. “The Idiot” was recorded at their getaway retreat… in Hansa, Germany, and was sandwiched in […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “The Nights Of Wine And Roses” by Japandroids
Looking back at the 2012 Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago, it was full of outstanding new music mostly performed by artists I had never heard of. Clearly, that is what makes Pitchfork one of the coolest festivals on the planet. One of the standouts was Canada’s Japandroids, a Husker Du-ish duo consisting of Brian King […]
Today in Rock History – February 24
1963, The Rolling Stones started a Sunday night residency at The Station Hotel, Richmond, Surrey. The Stones were paid $41 for the gig and played on the first night to a total of 66 people. 1965, The first full day of filming took place for The Beatles movie Help! with the group riding bicycles on […]
Today in Rock History – February 23
1965, Filming began on The Beatles follow up to A Hard Days Night on location in the Bahamas with the working title of Eight Arms To Hold You. 1966, During an 11-date tour of Australia and New Zealand The Rolling Stones played the first of four nights at the Palais Theatre, St Kida, Melbourne. 1967, […]
Today in Rock History – February 15
1964, The Beatles scored their first number one album with Meet The Beatles! The album stayed at the top of the charts for eleven weeks. 1964, The Dave Clark Five appeared on the UK TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars. 1965, American singer and pianist Nat King Cole died of lung cancer. His first hit was the […]
Bob Dylan, Rock History – February 4
1966, Bob Dylan and The Band played at the Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky. This was the first date on a world tour which would become significant as the first outing in which Dylan used electric instruments, after he had gone “electric” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. 1966, The Who play the Astoria Theatre […]
Song Of The Day by Eric Berman – “Johnny Carson” by Das Damen
Das Damen was an alternative band from New Jersey who was originally signed in 1986 by Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) to his record label. The band consisted of Jim Walters and Alex Totino on vocals and guitar, Phil Leopold von Trapp on bass and vocals and Lyle Hysen on drums. They recorded throughout the […]
