Nov 18 2008
Have You Heard The News?
In case yer wonderin’, that line (and part of this blog’s new theme) came from the original Good News Week by the UK band, Hedgehoppers Anonymous. Now, I said, “original” because, in the first versions, the second and last verses included the lines There’s lots of revelation now/they’re chopping up the sacred cow/ they’ve got a lot to eat. In later versions, it had to do with birth control.
Huh? Beats me why they changed ‘em. But, if you’ve got their 1966 hit with the original verse, trust me: you’ve got a rarity on yer hands (btw, the song was written by Jonathan King, singer/songwriter who’s gotten publicity recently as a convicted sex offender!)
Anyway, that’s the story behind the headline here … so let’s go on:
MICHAEL JACKSON … SUED AGAIN?!?
Uh-huh … but, this time, the papers are courtesy Sheik Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa (aka son of the King of Bahrain!). The tune’s $7 million, and it’s because the Gloved One didn’t do the album he promised when he signed with Al Kalifa’s label!
Listen … ummm, Mike? Uh … screwin’ up here in America is one thing, but … but do ya really wanna rip off an Arab king’s son? Dude, you’d better give it up now …
BEATLEMANIACS ARE GEARIN’ UP FOR THIS …
but, because it’s been covered elsewhere, lemme just give you the link, okay? It’s deffo headline material:
READ THE STORY HERE.
DON’T CUSS OUT YER CASSETTE YET!
With this economic crunch hittin’ everybody like a ton of bricks (including CD manufacturers), rockers are clamorin’ for something they can use to record their faves rather than hittin’ the stores for high-priced discs.
Know what they’re turnin’ to? Yep … the handy little audio cassettes. Now, for a few years, The Relic’s said these were gonna make a comeback due to the (ahem!) economy … and he was right!
They’re portable, easy-to-use, easier-to-manufacture, lightweight, compact … so why not??
BUT …
here’s a little “heads-up”: If ya still wanna rock with the silver discs, you’ll wanna get your copy of Run and Hide by The Fore! It’s got the Mersey/Hamburg rock, ballads, the best harmony this side of the Everly Brothers … and they’re quite affordable! Just click their site for more …
SIA-ing is BELIEVE-ing
For you yardbirds who’ve written in and wanted to know about the unusual singer on the David Letterman show a coupla nights ago, here y’are: Her name is Sia Kate Isobelle Furler (formerly with the group Zero 7 and simply known as Sia) and is an Australian songbird with quite an extensive recording/performing history already (she’s only 33!).
What you saw during her performance on Letterman was legit: She actually was “that thrilled” to have the national TV exposure (she almost came across as a starstruck fan, didn’t she?). And those “hand gestures”? It was modified sign language (and ya don’t see that often!).
This young lady’s got a great future still ahead of her … and her sound is very reminiscent of the Lulus and Cillas of the past …
Now … who’s up for giglists?
If ya see your fave band here, just click on the link to find out where they’re playing:
The Searchers (the superband who was second only to The Beatles in the Invasion!)
The Fore (the savage Hamburg/Merseybeat mixed with the best rock sounds imaginable!)
The Manfreds (same band, without Manfred Mann himself)
Bowzer’s Rock and Roll Party (with Jon “Bowzer” Bauman of Sha-Na-Na. The ultimate rock party!!)
The Offbeats (this US band is amazing in its sound, its rhythm, its covers … and its fan-friendliness!)
I’ll be adding more in a few clicks … but, for now, that’s it on this side of the trax. So be sure to TELL YOUR FRIENDS where they can pick up the best rock news, views and more …
and I’ll see ya on the flip side!
