August 7, 2006 – Gene Simmons Family Jewels premieres on the A&E Network. The show runs for seven successful seasons and features Simmons, his longtime partner Shannon Tweed, and their two kids Nick and Sophie. August 7, 1974 – J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf marries movie star Faye Dunaway in Beverly Hills, CA.  The couple divorce in 1979. August 7, 1981 – Motörhead drummer Phil … Continue reading CDJ Today: August 7 in Classic Rock →

Lately, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has been making up for so many artists that have previously been overlooked, but they’ve still got a long way to go to right some very obvious wrongs in their choices. Here are our picks for the Top 15 most overlooked artists that have yet to make … Continue reading 15 Most Overlooked Artists by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame →

December 28, 1968 – The Miami Pop Festival takes place near Miami, FL and attracts over 100,000 people over its three-day run.  Featured acts include The Amboy Dukes, Canned Heat, the Grateful Dead, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf, Fleetwood Mac, Procol Harum, The Turtles, Joni Mitchell, Three Dog Night and the Grass Roots. December 28, 1998 – Ronnie Hammond of The Atlanta Rhythm … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 28 in Classic Rock →

December 20, 1980 – Motörhead drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor accidentally breaks his neck after being lifted above the head of a friend in a test of strength, only to be dropped upon his head. Taylor continued to play in Motörhead with the aid of a neck brace, as is visible in the music video for “Ace of … Continue reading CDJ Today: December 20 in Classic Rock →

November 11, 1990 – A 21 year-old AC/DC fan dies after suffering fatal head injuries when a New Jersey State trooper tries to break up a fight in a parking lot after an AC/DC show at Brendan Byrne Arena in New Jersey.  The trooper hit the fan causing him to fall backwards and strike his head.  The trooper … Continue reading CDJ Today: November 11 in Classic Rock →

Often the most overlooked member of the band, a bassist is the glue that holds the whole musical foundation together.  These deserving players have changed music forever and have elevated the bass player to a place deserving honor and recognition. 20 Gene Simmons (KISS) Maybe this is a sympathy vote, but Simmons revolutionized rock and … Continue reading Top 20 Rock Bassists →

Motörhead guitarist Edward Clarke – best known as ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke – died Wednesday at the age of 67. Clarke was in hospital being treated for pneumonia at the time of his death. “We are devastated to pass on the news we only just heard ourselves earlier tonight…Edward Allan Clarke – or as we all … Continue reading Motorhead’s ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke Dies at 67 →

For anyone who ever watched 60 Minutes, think of this as the “A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney” bit at the end of each show.  Kind of fitting as this is my year-end blog. Who the heck are the voters for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame??  Try as they do, they never seem … Continue reading Having Some Fun at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Expense →

01 U2: Rattle and Hum (1988) Runtime: 99 min Just in time for their U.S. stadium tour commemorating the 30th anniversary of their seminal album, The Joshua Tree, it’s time to take another look at this documentary chronicling U2’s Fall 1987 tour of North America. Highlights include the band playing with B.B. King on “When … Continue reading Top 10 Best Rock Docs To Watch Right Now →

The band Disturbed is something you might, at first, not expect to read about in these pages.  Disturbed is not classic rock per se, but in their unique way they have managed to perfect a classic sound, which has always distinguished them from normal metal fare.  In some ways they remind me of a modern … Continue reading Disturbed: Defying Genre →