June 23, 1974 – The first World Series of Rock concert sponsored by WMMS in Cleveland takes place at Cleveland Stadium.  The bill includes The Beach Boys, Joe Walsh & Barnstorm, Lynyrd Skynyrd and REO Speedwagon and attracts over 80,000 fans.  The stadium is demolished in 1996, but not before fifteen more festivals occur. June 23, 1975 – Alice Cooper plummets from the stage … Continue reading CDJ Today: June 23 in Classic Rock →

May 8, 1965 – Bob Dylan shoots a film clip for his song “Subterranean Homesick Blues” which becomes the forerunner to what we now know as music videos.  The famous “flashcard” clip theme is then duplicated many times in music videos and movies. May 8, 1996 – Tommy Lee and wife Pamela Anderson lose their suit against … Continue reading CDJ Today: May 8 in Classic Rock →

“Let me forget about today until tomorrow,” Bob Dylan wrote one day in the opening stages of 1964. It was the final line of a song filled with lines — some poignant, some instructive, somewhat perplexing in the aggregate. From our vantage point today, it is tomorrow and thus the perfect time to remember this … Continue reading Classic Rock Landmarks: Mr. Tambourine Man →

As anyone knows, the supergroup is a risky proposition in rock and roll. Since the ‘60s, there have been quite a few supergroups — bands made up exclusively (or at least primarily) of musicians who have already achieved success with other bands. Sometimes even ideas that sound good on paper don’t necessarily gel on vinyl. … Continue reading Top 10 Rock Supergroups →

Willie Nelson once told me, “Paul, fame is funny thing. Some people really want it, but when it comes, they can’t handle it.” Echoing Willie, in an interview talking about Brian Jones, Mick Jagger said, “Fame doesn’t sit comfortably on anyone’s shoulders. But some people’s shoulders don’t seem to fit it on at all.” The … Continue reading The Downside of Fame for Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, and More →

“He not busy being born, is busy dying.” There it was, hiding in plain view in one of Bob Dylan’s most memorable lyrics, released in the spring of 1965. “He not busy being born, is busy dying.” Dylan, 23 and a firmly established toast of the thriving folk scene, laid it all out there: stagnation … Continue reading Classic Rock Landmarks: Like a Rolling Stone →

After recently reading about David Bowie’s estate selling his song catalog to Warner Chappell Music for approximately $250 million, I thought it was high time I cover the subject of why so many classic rock artists are rushing to sell their publishing. The music world, and the world in general, was shocked not too long … Continue reading Iconic Artists Are Selling Their Catalogs, and It’s a Slippery Slope →

I thoroughly enjoyed Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President.  I learned a lot from watching it, and I highly recommend the film which you can view on Amazon. This documentary brought back memories of more innocent times and gave a fresh look at the Carter presidency which I think is needed.  So much of what … Continue reading Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President – Plus Personal Insights on Gregg Allman & Bob Dylan →

Thirty-seven years ago, a phenomenal cast of superstars banded together to raise money for humanitarian aid efforts in Africa and the U.S. And thirty-seven years later, “We Are The World” still gives us chills. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones, the charity single was recorded on this day in … Continue reading We Are The World: In Order of Appearance →

2020 has been a rough year, to say the least. Lots of us have friends or family that have had to battle the COVID virus. Some didn’t make it. A few of my colleagues from the music industry have been amongst that count. My 95-year-old mother somehow contracted the virus in her independent living quarters. But she beat … Continue reading Finding the Silver Linings in 2020 →

Only a few classic rock musicians or bands have been fortunate enough to win a coveted Academy Award for music they’ve written. In fact, there are fewer than 15 winners in this category, with only a single artist scoring more than one Oscar.  One group on the list has won an Oscar but NOT a … Continue reading Rock Artists Who Have Won an Academy Award →

Have you voted yet?  If not, maybe you need some musical inspiration to either fill out that absentee ballot or go cast it in person. Here are ten handpicked songs to inspire, anger, motivate and delight you. GO VOTE! And now, in alphabetical order by song title: 01 “…And Justice For All” – Metallica (1988) Of course, … Continue reading 10 Classic Rock Songs That Will Inspire You To Vote →