the Rock Report

Y’know, the Sixties weren’t just about fantastic music, peace movements, wild clothes and a war we’ll never forget. For many teens and above, there were certain drop-words that made you hip (now that we’re old[er], “hip” doesn’t mean “cool”, but a certain nagging point of arthritis). Some examples:

1. “Fab” was formerly the name of a laundry detergent. When the Beatles appeared with their British slang, it became the faddish abbreviation for “fabulous.” Here in 2006, it’s the name of a laundry detergent again.
2. “Gear” once meant something that helped machinery work. In a way, it meant the same thing in rock: if something was “gear,” it meant it was “groovily happening.”
3. “Groovy” was a term used to describe the surface of LPs and 45s. Then it became our equivalent of “cool.” Today (with vinyl being “out”), who knows what it means??
4. “In” and “Out”. Either you were accepted into a certain crowd or not. Today, just a door sign … or directions disregarded by the Bush Administration.
5. “Uptight”. If you were “stressed out” (millennium phrase) about something, you were “uptight”.
6. “L7″ was one of the most cryptic, and didn’t really catch on in the Sixties (originally used by the Greenwich Village crowd back in the ’50s) until Sam the Sham’s “Hattie” warned “Mattie” not to be that way, but learn to dance in “Wooly Bully”. If you put an “L” and a block-print “7″ together, you’ve got … a SQUARE!
7. “Outtasight” — a word supposedly derived from the space program — meant the same as today’s “awesome” or “off-the-charts.” The best of the best.
8. “Chick” — okay, this one’s been around for ages, and was inspired by W.C. Fields’ My Little Chickadee. Meant “lovely, vivacious girl”. Alas, many chicks grow up to eventually become old hens … (PLEASE NOTE: THAT DOES NOT MEAN ALL OF THEM. SOME GROW UP TO BECOME ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND LIVELY!).
9. Now, there are others (huh?? Oh … because I value my life … that’s why!) that I probably missed out on, and if anyone remembers others, give me a shout-out.

Hearing some good reports on Mike Smith; the lead singer of the Dave Clark Five suffered a tremendous fall a coupla years back that left him tetraplegic (limited use of arms and upper torso; totally paralyzed otherwise). With a lot of support from fans, Peter Noone, great therapists, Paul Schafer and the great “oldies” show at BB King’s, and especially his lovely wife (whom he actually remarried, he’s now able to feed himself, talk … who knows? He just might beat this thing after all (he’s undergoing a lot of the same treatments Chris Reeve did. The paralysis is almost exactly the same …)
Not so good on Dave Clark himself. Word from the rock front is that he actually didn’t do the drumming on the DC5 hits, and used an offstage “ghost-drummer” in concerts. Won’t release any video on the boys, and even spliced the group into some Gerry & Pacemakers fan footage to build up the Five! Today, the guy’s been an a– to deal with (this from those who work with him).
Hats off to Freddie Garrity (of Freddie and the Dreamers), who’s suffering a serious battle with lung and heart problems and often has to use a wheelchair. Although it looks bad for him (the Brit medicos have said he’s too old for a life-saving transplant), he’s still got a tremendous sense of humor. Courage in trying times … but the beat goes on: The remaining Dreamers (not the originals) are still on the road.
Gerry Marsden (of Pacemaker fame) nearly needed a real one a short while back when he suffered a heart attack (PS The “Pacemaker” name came from the word for a lead runner or driver). He’s picked up a vulgar, snotty attitude during his concerts, though, insulting fans between numbers …
Totally great to see Peter and Gordon performing again! Though Asher looks pretty much the same, Waller could be scripted in as a cowboy on any Western! Their songs still hold the magic …
The Hollies have a totally new CD called Staying Power and a song that’s hitting Brit charts, So Damn Beautiful.
Sal Valentino (of America’s Beau Brummels) is also releasing a new CD. He’s got a tremendous voice … and a very comfortable personality … even after all these years.

Got more coming in a couple of days. Right now, we gotta take a break for station identification, so stay tuned …

Forgive me Vassar, for I have signed … it’s been two weeks and two days since my last professional …
HUH?? Oh … I was listening to a cut from country singer “Phil Vassar” and realized I hadn’t signed in here for awhile. And, since we do profess ROCK! around these parts …
ah, well. On with the show:

I received a golden magazine today that opened a load of memories for me … as well as a million fab ideas for the ROCK! Spaper coming out in July.
It reminded me of “back-in-the-day”, when I was called The Eagle by overzealous kids (teens and under) in my home turf of Pineville, NC. I was holding down a day job, working the Birth of Superock! audio documentary, writing a syndicated column, and had a rock group called STORM! that did pretty well in the area.

In fact, it almost brought the house down once … literally …

It was a Thursday evening. Since I’d just finished the next set of columns for the local paper (Southeast Charlotte News), and the tape was nearly in the can, Rob, Rick, Tony and I got together for a quick rehearsal of some tunes we were gonna do at a Pineville Park shindig two days later. The scene: My humongous kitchen. I’d planned to practice “unplugged” (I was on lead guitar and harmonica), but Rob brought his drums, and Rick and Tony their electrics with a coupla Peavey column amps.
Sooooooo, here’s this bird going to his bedroom closet, dragging out his equipment. Plug in, tune up, Rob tries his drums, check sound, and then we kick it … LOUD!

I had cats. Big ones. Strong ones. Ones that knew their way to the attic.

Soon, we had a number of fans driving up, crowding on the front porch, through the door, as we hit “Ol’ Sol”. They’re thriving around … oblivious (as were we) of the … creaking noises in the ceiling!

Then we hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” …

C-R-A-S-H-!!!!! Suddenly, from the ceiling came fiberglass, pieces of ceiling tile, a bit of old something-or-another … and three cats that took off like bats outta hell … the screams weren’t for us … some of the junk went down a young lady’s blouse, and my cat “Mo-Mo” ran through her legs and rebounded on the screen door!

We stopped playing (geeeee … surprised??), and I went to check the damage. Everyone had run outside … including the cats …

Two mornings later, the duct tape came off, and I said “good-bye” to my meager paycheck as I admired the new ceiling tile put in by a jobber who demanded overtime …

The show, though, went off as planned, and went well — although we all kept looking up at the bandstand shelter roof … you know … just in case. And, to this day, I wonder aloud if we weren’t the ones who coined the phrase “raise the roof”? Maybe it’s “lower the ceiling”. I dunno.

At least Phil Vassar can play acoustic. He’s got some sense.