Classics Du Jour

Excited to see concert dates being booked again starting this summer, I happened upon some Loverboy dates.  I had the pleasure of playing a major role in their career and seeing their name sparked a lot of memories. It occurred to me that many of you who appreciate my writings (PS. Thank you very much), … Continue reading The Loverboy Story →

For some reason, Mick Jagger’s new solo offering with Dave Grohl, “Easy Sleazy,” is getting a bit of critical blow back, from well, critics.  Perhaps it’s because when you get so big, part of that celebrity status includes people who want to take pot shots at you to bring you down a notch.  Who knows. … Continue reading Me and Mick Jagger – It’s Only Rock and Roll but I Like It →

Have you watched the Frank Zappa documentary? It’s one of the very best and most moving films you’ll ever see.  I spent $6.99 to watch it and would have spent $100.00.  It’s that good, that compelling, and that important. Unless you’re an avid fan, you probably don’t know that much about Frank Zappa.  I know … Continue reading A Day in the Life with Frank Zappa →

To our generation the music meant everything.  We didn’t have computers, smartphones, and tons of cable TV shows to entertain us.  The music took center stage and the messages from that music helped shape our lives.  It is a generation of music lovers who not only knew the hits but who were also familiar with … Continue reading Remembering Leslie West →

I didn’t know Eddie Van Halen personally.  Only to say hello backstage when our Columbia Records’ band Alice In Chains opened for Van Halen on one of their big tours.  So, unlike my usual fare, I have no personal stories to tell.  Yet, I find it hard to sit back and not write about this … Continue reading Like Picasso or Jimi Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen Was a True Original →

When Peter Green passed away, we lost one of the greatest blues/rock electric guitarists of all-time.  Yet despite his major contributions to music and blues styling on the guitar, Peter Green is not a name that many immediately recognize.  In 1967, Peter Green founded the legendary band Fleetwood Mac. But he only led it until … Continue reading Remembering Peter Green →

I recently watched the new docu-series Laurel Canyon.  If you enjoyed Echo in The Canyon (which I thought was extraordinary), Laurel Canyon is a great follow-up.  It’s a two-part television documentary and gives a much broader view of that legendary Laurel Canyon music scene. It includes many more artists than Echo and I learned a … Continue reading Laurel Canyon, The Byrds, Elvis Costello and My Rickenbacker Guitar →

Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution is a traveling exhibit now on display at the New-York Historical Society Museum & Library.  I was invited to attend the opening ceremony in which there was a panel discussion about Bill’s early years and some of the more memorable moments and concerts he promoted.  Many of … Continue reading Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution →

I was perusing CDJ, when I spied a great interview with Rob Halford by my old friend Jim Villanueva.  New music by iconic veterans is most always something to shout about.  The idea of always “becoming” keeps an artist fresh and vibrant.  A metal Christmas album is perfect, and Celestial delivers on all fronts.  The … Continue reading Rob Halford and the Secret Lives of Metal Gods →

The first time many of us heard about David Gilmour’s overly generous philanthropy was in 2002 when he sold his beautiful London home for approximately four million pounds and handed the cash straight to Crisis, a British charity supporting the homeless.  That blew a lot of people’s minds.  Turns out that David had been giving … Continue reading David Gilmour Guitar Auction Reveals A Lot About The Man →

The early 70’s in the music business seemed like one long party. It’s not that we didn’t do our jobs, it’s just that everything seemed very loose and carefree while we were doing them. We worked hard for sure, but then there would be an afternoon game of bowling in the hallway — stuff like … Continue reading Early 70’s Music Biz Hiring — Pretty Amusing! →

I recently read in our good ol’ CDJ about the retirement plans of Paul Simon, Neil Diamond, Elton John, and Ozzy Osbourne.  The strangest feeling came over me—it just didn’t sound right. I actually am finding it hard to cope with the thought.  Although I am getting older myself and in semi-retirement mode for the … Continue reading Iconic Artists “Retiring” – Doesn’t Sound Right + Funny Paul Simon and Frank Zappa Stories →