the Rock Report

One of the most legendary voices in England has to belong to Harry Webb of Luchnow, India — a former desk clerk better known as Sir Cliff Richard.
He and a skiffle band called The Drifters became one of the most influential acts in Britain when they finally went electric, adopted a modified Elvis sound and the band changed its name to The Shadows.

And it was this week in rock history, 50 years ago, that Cliff actually broke through on U.S. charts with his hit, Living Doll (which was his second hit in the UK, I believe …).
But, three years later, he hit with a song originally recorded by Tommy Edwards in 1958 — a tune actually written by former U.S. Vice-President Charles Gates Dawes!. Actually, Dawes wrote the melody of It’s All In The Game back in 1912!

On October 1, 1962,  Brian Epstein signed his management contract with The Beatles. Now, while John Lennon and Ringo Starr signed for themselves, Harold Harrison and James McCartney sign it on behalf of their underage sons (George and Paul, respectively). The agreement gave Epstein a 25% cut of the band’s earnings, provided that they made more than $400 each per week.

This was also the week, 43 years ago, when the great Jimi Hendrix hired Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell to join him in the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

(Mitch — the drummer — was actually introduced to the pro rock stage by the great Ron Ryan, who hired him on as part of his band The Riot Squad.)

Ironically, it was exactly four years later that Jimi was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery after what was said to be an “accidental overdose.”  Today, however, his death is being re-investigated as a homicide!

More in the next post.  But, first:  lemme remind you that more will be coming up about The Fore in our next posts as well!  You’ve asked … and the Eagle delivers!

Until Wednesday evening, remember to keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, and your heart with the music …

and I’ll see ya on the flip side …

For years, we’ve heard the rumours that John Lennon wrote Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds as an ode to LSD (after all, the acronym spells LSD, right?).
And he said it was inspired by his son, Julian’s, pic of a girl in his class.

A real-life girl, later revealed as Lucy Vodden …

who died, tragically (and, in my opinion, senselessly), of lupus yesterday.

Now, I said “senselessly” because I worked with the National Lupus Foundation (Charlotte, NC branch) back in the early ’90s and (a year after my divorce) briefly dated a lady with the disease.*
And I know that Lucy could have been treated for this early-on, and had a full and favoured life.
Y’see, lupus is a disease whereby an overactive immune system attacks healthy organs of the body via the connective tissues, thus breaking them down.  It normally goes for the kidneys first, then liver, and finally the heart. 
There are three kinds of lupus:  SLE (systemic lupus erythematosus), discoid (which attacks the skin — the body’s largest organ.  This is what Seal has) and DIL (drug induced lupus — the only lupus that can be cured by stopping the effecting drug).  The treatment-of-choice is prednisone, a steroid.  Of course, there are dietary rules and regs to follow that will definitely help.  Ahhh, but back in the ’90s, most American hospitals gave their nurses no more than about thirty minutes of training in the disease!  Even today, many sufferers are left in the dark about it.

It’s a shame that this took a lovely young lady’s life.  With proper treatment, support and diet, it wouldn’t have done that.
Our condolences to her family and friends (including Julian) upon her loss.  Today, I figure Lucy’s in the sky … with Diamonds!!  RIP, Ms. Vodden …
(* My separation with Joyce had nothing to do with the disease. She was highly controlling and verbally abusive, and I don’t play that game …)

SIR PAUL’S ESSAY

An essay that was written by Paul McCartney when he was ten years old has been found in Liverpool’s Central Library where it lay, undiscovered, for over 50 years!

In fact, he beat hundreds of other school kids for his 1953 essay, which honoured the Queen’s coronation. In neat handwriting, he wrote of “the lovely young Queen Elizabeth”.

Thought to be one of the earliest surviving written works by Sir Paul, the essay gave him an early taste of appearing in public.
McCartney’s neat writing had the same curly ends on capital letters which he used later on the “B” of “Beatles” on Ringo’s drum skin.

In the essay, Macca compared the happy scenes that were expected outside Buckingham Palace with the coronation of William the Conqueror nine centuries earlier, when a massacre of Saxons took place. If you want to know more (and see part of the original script), just click here for the video.

FOLLOWING UP ON YESTERDAY At about 11 PM EST, I cut this rig off to get some needed rest. Tonight (as you can tell), I’ve hadta get back to the late-night gig once more, but it’s to do some rewrites that came in at the last minute. After this PM/AM run, expect earlier reports …
Gotta admit, though: One perk is this extra cuppa Earl Grey. I found ya don’t drink it … ya gotta savour it … and sip lightly.
Oh … and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich?? Their music has always pumped me up! And Hold Tight! does it best for the bird.

Allllllll that bein’ said (and all rewrites done and submitted), I’m gonna cut ‘er off and head for the great unknown (ie, dreamland …). So I’ll see u earlier tomorrow … on the flip side …

Now, this has gotta be the weirdest post I’ve ever featured on the Report.

Earlier today — and unbeknownst to the GP — I had a few odd clicks in my inner ticker (awright, then … my heart!  Geez … do I haveta spell out everything for ya?? lol).

Anyway — since I was feelin’ a bit odd anyway, and knowing that my family has a history of heart trouble (and since, to now, I’ve been in pretty good health), I went to the local ER for a tune-up.

Finally — three magazines read cover-to-cover later — the duty doc saw me.  After bein’ poked, prodded and handled more than a loaf of discount bread, he disappeared for about three days (well, it seemed like it!  It was just under an hour …). On returning, he asked all kinds of questions about my stress level, my work, my insurance carrier (I’m a Democrat. Don’t have one …) and (yes, I am kidding …), my hours (which, as luck would have it, are exactly the same as anyone else! Got 24 a day!!)

Then he gave me the news …

I read it (it was yesterday’s edition) and, when I handed it back to him, he told me what he thought was wrong with me. Fortunately, he didn’t know me well, so I figured my self-esteem was safe ..

Apparently, I’d been hanging out with my cats too much (see picture to the right).

Actually, he said I was at a very high, danger-level stress. Too much work, too little sleep, too many “irons in the fire” at one time.  It knocked me away from the things I should be doing and I felt the most important things and people in my life were startin’ to fall away from me … friends, acts, accounts – and it was leavin’ me in an emotional, financial and situational lurch (I always liked that guy, with his “You Rannnng??” It’s an honour to be associated …)

In other words, Dr. K said I’ve gotta get back to those occupations that matter — and give up everything that actually is frivolous, time-consuming and not gettin’ me anywhere!  He said for those that do, do them well, and stop piddlin’ around!

Sooo, after I apologized (hey … I didn’t know I was piddlin’.  Fortunately, someone cleaned up the floor …), I asked him what he’d recommend that I do. As he was about to answer, he dropped his pen on the floor and muttered, “Oh, CRAP!”
After that mess was cleaned up (I follow orders), he asked me (yes, it was a joke. Lame, but one anyway) what I did for a living. I told him about the Press Agent gig for The Fore, the writing gig for Demand (the 10-a-week articles), the two blogs, the sites …

At that point, he pointed out a point:  “That should be enough!  Work out a schedule to accommodate all of those to your mutual satisfaction.  Be sure to eat sensibly, get six to eight hours’ rest every night, and drop everything else!”
“Now,” he continued, “if these other things, outside your … band and your writing work, get in the way, stand up to them and tell them you’ve got something more important to work on:  Your LIFE!”

As he clicked his pen and was ready to leave, he said something that irked me a bit:  “Now, remember:  If you don’t, then it’s not gonna do you any good to come here!  We’re not miracle workers … and I don’t do funerals very well!”  I started to interrupt him, but as he started to walk away, he said “It’s either Stand Up … or Shut Up!”

Soooo … guess who’s gotta make some very serious changes?  Uh-huh …

TO BE CONTINUED … 

You’ve heard it on Oprah, Today and Lord-knows-how-many other talk or entertainment shows, but …

how much of it is real?

Now, most of us remember “Papa” John’s pieces (not to be confused with “Papa John’s” Pizza) of misinformation back when he was with us. Yeah, he was a good singer with the M&Ps, but … wellll, his personal tastes left a lot to be desired.
He could hit the horse (smack, heroin, whatever …) as quickly as he could the bottle, and swear that he was clean of both.
‘Course, we knew better. There are some things you just can’t mask.

But … incest?? Awwww, come onnnn …

First, let’s consider his daughter, MacKenzie’s, and her own troubles with substance abuse … and her own mental fitness … annnnd her spite toward John.
Then, mix that with a desire to be back in the spotlight and make a lot of long green with it.

Does … does the picture seem the same now??

Another thing: If a daughter is being molested (or worse) by her father, don’tcha figure that the mother would catch on … and either leave (with daughter) or beat the bejabbers outta the old man (not to mention having him arrested?

Makes sense … and Michelle isn’t the type that’d put up with it, if she knew (and there are signs, believe me! Just click here to find out …).

Another thing: Why’d she … well, let’s let “Mama” Michelle (Mac’s real mom) ask this:
“”Mackenzie has a lot of mental illness… If she thinks it’s true, why isn’t she with a good psychiatrist on a couch? I think it’s unconscionable that Oprah would let her do her show. I have every reason to believe it’s untrue.”

Now … it’s your turn. What do you think? Reckon John was guilty? Or is Michelle right? Lemme know. Either leave comment or email me, okay?? I’ll publish some of the responses (using only your first names) shortly.

Until tonight … see ya on the flip side …

Awright … I know I’m a little behind. But, anatomy notwithstanding (hey … you started it!), the balding bird’s been bed-bug busy fittin’ piles of research into ten deadlined articles and gettin’ more Fore tracks into the hands of terra-radio stations around the US of A.
But, look … I’m back, so what’s to worry? We’ll get back to the regular schedule in a coupla days …

HOLD TIGHT!

Just a quick note: I never thought I’d miss Dave Dee and band so much until the new download of their hit, Hold Tight! arrived at the RockDesk. Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich were fab rockers with the tightest in-group harmonies since The Hollies!
Oh … didja know that Dave (R.I.P., man …) was also the one on the scene of the crash that killed rock legend Eddie Cochran? He was still in training as a patrolman, but not only did he aid in securing the scene but also was directly responsible for getting Eddie’s guitar back to his parents!
Up until Dave’s death last year, the band was still performing. Here’s hoping they’ll keep it together, at least in the man’s memory …

ALL THAT GLITTERS AIN’T GOLD …

Hey … remember that jackass, Gary Glitter?? (WOW!  For just a minute, I felt like the President!!) Awww, this has-been jerk was the one who molested little kids overseas and didn’t get away with it (fortunately).
And remember how he was sent back to England and told to sit and stay?? (well, he is a dog, IMHO … wait … sorry.  Dogs shouldn’t be compared to this idiot …)
Well, yesterday (23 Sep) a British court refused to let him leave the country for a French vacation, saying that he was “still a risk to children.”
But get this: The police told the court that Gary’s real intent was to slip over the border and go to Spain — where the legal age of consent is 13.
(hmmm … earlier, I mentioned dogs. Which brings up neutering. I wonder …. naaah; gotta have ‘em to lose ‘em …)

ROCK HoF NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

Here it is, straight from the ticker:

“The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame announced the nominees for induction as the Class of 2010. The Hollies, the Chantels, Darlene Love, ABBA, KISS, Laura Nyro, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, the Stooges, LL Cool J and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were all named. Five will be announced in January and inducted March 15 in New York City.”

Okay … whaddya say we meet back here tomorrow about this time? Til then, Keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music …
and I’ll see ya (awww, you know the rest …)

You’ve heard the anthem … know the band … maybe even seen the play.

Now … get ready for the movie!

Queen’s amazing guitarist Brian May has just confirmed that We Will Rock You — the tribute to the legendary band that’s been a tremendous stage hit — will be coming to a theatre near you in the near future … as a movie!
He said the success of the film version of the ABBA-laced musical Mamma Mia! has sparked interest in doing the same with the Queen production, which is titled after the band’s most popular international hit.

Ben Elton, writer of the stage play, has already finished a script that, in May’s words, is “grittier” than the stage version (of course, more liberties can be taken in film than onstage as there are less spacial restrictions).

In fact, May surprised fans in Bristol, England’s Hippodrome Theatre last week by appearing at the opening night of the musical. He weaved his magic onstage by playing guitar on Bohemian Rhapsody.
And, according to newspaper reviews, he “blew the roof off with his trademark sizzling guitar riffs” while his guitar solo was “mind-blowing”. The Weston Mercury news said his appearance was a surprise to the audience and caused the audience to “go wild” and give Brian a fifteen-minute standing ovation. “Words cannot describe how truly spectacular this show is,” it added.

ANOTHER MOVIE COOKE-ING

It’s just in the planning stages right now, but ABKCO Records, which owns much of Sam Cooke’s music catalog, is developing a movie about the late soul star.
Peter Guarlnick’s book, “Dream Boogie” is being adapted for a shot at the silver screen. ABKCO head Jody Klein recently told Reuters news, “In the next couple of months, I should be able to make an announcement on the film,”
This isn’t necessarily going to shed any light into his tragic death (shot under suspicious circumstances at a motel in December 1964), but it’ll certainly give Cooke the status he deserves as one of the legendary artists who, along with greats like Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and Little Richard, broke through the racial barrier and made rock and soul available for enjoyment by people of all colors!

More this evening, so stay tuned. Me? I’ll see ya on the flip side …

AND THE BATTLE RAGES ON …

Just got an email from some dude who ranted and raved that I have no right to the Electric Eagle moniker, since “I have use (sic) that name on my web page since 2001″.
He must’ve been a member of that new self-help group patterned after AA, called “OnandOn Anon”, ‘cuz he wrote the equivalent of a three page letter to let me know how wrong I am/was/will be.

It was with no egret that I told him the name was mine back when the web only belonged to Spider-Man® and not hanging outta Windows®. He ®eneged.

DIDJA KNOW THAT …

if yer mama or aunt or sister or sensitive brother liked the TV soap opera The Bold And The Beautiful — especially the character of Ridge Forrester — she/he/they were watching Ronn Moss, the bassist for Player (”Baby Come Back” which is now the favorite song of a brokenhearted mop on TV ads).

U2’s Paul Hewson has been known as “Bono” by his family and friends ever since he was just a kid. The nickname is short for “Bono Vox”, which is an alteration of a Latin phrase which translates to “good voice” (bonavox).

Hey … didja dig Happy Days or Joanie Loves Chachi back-in-the-day (if so, why “Chachi”??  C’mon … nobody’s gonna know but us)? The songwriter for the shows was a guy named Vinnie Vincent (yep … same one who performed as part of KISS back in ‘82)!

And if you’re wonderin’ what happened to ZZ Top after Steven (”don’t-call-me-Steve”) Tyler’s spill off the stage in South Dakakota: They’re not takin’ it lyin’ down, because they’ve just worked up their own tour (and, btw, they got it all together within 48 hours of the last Aerosmith show!), which’ll go on thru the end of October.
But wait! There’s MORE! While they’re out on the road, they’ll also release a two-DVD set of live performances from 1980 and 2000, called Double Down Live. And then they’ll go back into the studio to record material for a new album!

Okay … that’s it for now, but stay tuned:  The Eagle (lemme say that again:  THE EAGLE (hmph … give me a hard time, willya??) will be back in 24 or less with more!  So, until then, I’ll …

see ya on the flip side!

With heightened interest in The Beatles (due, in large part, to the new Rock Band game bearing their name and, in part, the digital remastering of their music library), UK TV/radio presenter Sir Terry Wogan has put himself in a recording studio along with Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and the Rolling Stones’ former bassist Bill Wyman to record covers of The Beatles’ classics.

These will be released on an album called Bandaged Together and will benefit the Children in Need program.

The idea was brought together by a group of Terry Wogan fans known as The TOGs (and ya gotta love the name: Terry’s Old Geezers and Gals).

“Last year, thanks to the TOGs, we raised about £3 million for Children In Need,” Sir Terry says. “We had Bandaged One which sold an awful lot and made hundreds of thousands of pounds for the charity. The idea this year is Bandaged Two and we are hoping to raise even more money.”

The album will include Sir Terry’s version of the Beatle anthem All You Need Is Love and is set to be released next month.

THE ART OF ELYSIUM

Awhile back, I mentioned a non-profit group called Art of Elysium, which Hugh Laurie (pictured) and his Band from TV supports.
Since then, I’ve had a few emails asking the musical question: What is Art of Elysium?

Okay … here’s the official blurb:

“The Art of Elysium is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 which encourages actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions.
They provide artistic workshops in the following disciplines: acting, art, comedy, fashion, music, radio, songwriting and creative writing.
They work with numerous hospitals and hospices throughout Los Angeles and have just opened in New York City.
For more information on The Art of Elysium please visit www.theartofelysium.org.”

I knowww … “Well … what does “elysium” mean??”
Actually, it comes from the Greek word, Ēlysion, which means paradise!
And what better feeling to give a child, huh??

See ya on the flip side …

I’ll talk later about my momentary “disappearance”. But, for now, let’s take a serious moment to remember some special people, okay?

First: the folk music world — in fact, anybody who loved the simple-but-soultouching sounds of that genre — is grieving tonight upon hearing that Mary Travers, the blonde beauty who belted out some of the most powerful protest songs of the Sixties with her partners, Paul Stookey and Peter Yarrow, died Wednesday evening of leukemia at age 72.

The Louisville, Kentucky native was considered both the soul and verve of Peter, Paul and Mary, whose songs like Puff, The Magic Dragon, If I Had A Hammer, Blowin’ In The Wind and Leaving On A Jet Plane, became legend. Their take-off of rock music, I Dig Rock and Roll Music (in which they mimic Donovan, Mamas and Papas and even The Beatles) was hilarious, and scored a “direct hit” against censorship.

Though they broke up and reunited many times before, their last performance was just four months ago in Brunswick, New Jersey. In hearing of her death, Peter Yarrow said, “…I do know there will always be a hole in my heart, a place where she will always exist that will never be filled by any other person. However painful her passing is, I am forever grateful for Mary and her place in my life.”
However, Paul Stookey (who was very close to Travers) said, “I am deadened and heartsick beyond words to consider a life without Mary Travers and honored beyond my wildest dreams to have shared her spirit and her career.”

We’re all honored, Paul … and she’ll be missed. But, now, her spirit is blowin’ in the wind …

And one of the most prolific and professional session drummers on planet Earth passed away of stomach cancer on Monday. Now, many statesiders haven’t heard of Bobby Graham, but, as anyone in the UK can tell you, he provided the backbeat of many songs that came out of the British Invasion.

In fact, it’s said that, all told, he played on 15,000 songs, including Dusty Springfield’s “I Only Want To Be With You,” Petula Clark’s “Downtown” and Them’s original “Gloria.” He was 69.

He also provided the solid beat on the Kink’s “You Really Got Me” and “All Day And All Of The Night” (who can forget that dynamic drum bridge?) as well as on some of Herman’s Hermits’ hits.
But he was also drummer on the recordings of the Dave Clark Five (though Dave did play the drums during their live gigs). While, as you’ve read in earlier post, Ron Ryan was responsible for the DC5’s “Tottenham sound”, Graham provided the backbeat to it!
Legend has it that he was also asked to replace Pete Best in the Beatles before Ringo Starr but turned them down.

A dynamic personality as well as drummer, Bobby is going to be seriously missed by his mates and fans around the world … including this balding bird!

VERY SHORT TAKES:

Yes, as with everyone else who ever watched his movies or followed this lanky Texan, I’m very saddened by the death of Patrick Swayze. His devotion to his family, his lovely wife Lisa, his fans and his profession were traits that aren’t often seen these days.

Kanye?? The Prez?? Well, on the one hand, West has gotta start a heavy diet of humble pie. Look … he isn’t as great as he thinks he is (how many others are just as good and top stars as well??), he’ll undoubtedly “fade out” as most hip-hop stars do (check the stats: they’re the quickest to lose their fame, and the field’s wayyy too crowded) and he’s a flesh-and-blood mortal who, with his egoic attitude and choice of genres, has put himself in a very dangerous position!

The President?? Well, lemme ask ya: Does President Obama have the same rights as the rest of us? Though he’s leader of the country, doesn’t he have the right to an opinion? Besides, he was right when he called Kanye a “jackass”. The guys who broke this remark (which was supposed to be off-the-record) on (of all things!) Twitter rather than telling their bosses first should be terminated from their jobs (hey … they broke business etiquette as well as a number of in-house rules at ABC).

I’VE BEEN LATE BECAUSE business has really begun to pick up over here at Rock Central, both with The Fore promos, extra articles up the yingyang, business reviews, the sites … and, of course, regular things like research, cleaning, errands, etc. But stay tuned: I’ve found a way to expedite these things and get more time to keep up yer fave rock blog!
So I’ll be back in less than 24 with more! Until then, I’ll …
see ya on the flip side …

First: I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention the passing of a modern-day cinematic legend.
Patrick Swayze lost his tremendous battle against pancreatic cancer yesterday. While millions of fans are paying their respects on Twitter, Facebook, in emails and call-ins, others are watching their copies of Dirty Dancing and Red Dawn, remembering the man who some had called our generation’s James Dean.
Patrick was an art form in every way, whether in dance, acting or even in his home life. No question that, although we all expected the end to come, we all miss him and are thankful for all that he gave to us through his acting.
RIP, Patrick! You fought a helluva battle and tought all of us how to face life with joy and death with dignity.

THE BEATLES and an amazing Russian Revolution

According to Dr. Yury Pelyushonok, a Canadian-based Doctor of Soviet Studies in Medicine who grew up in the former USSR in the 1960s, the Fab Four were responsible, in part, for bringing an end to the Communists regime!

“The Beatles had this tremendous impact on Soviet kids. The Soviet authorities thought of The Beatles as a secret Cold War weapon,” he said.

“The kids lost their interest in all Soviet unshakable dogmas and ideals, and stopped thinking of an English speaking person as the enemy.”

I’m not surprised — and neither is any other true student of the Fab Four.  After all, they epitomized and put a human face on what Shakespeare said years ago; that “music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.”  These guys inspired a total generation … whether it was in England, the states, France, Germany and around the world!  So their effect on kids in the former USSR doesn’t seem far fetched at all.

ONE MORE THING

Sunday night’s MTV Video Awards were disrupted by the rapper Kenye West, when he interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech upon winning the top award.
Now, I don’t know much about this guy’s music, but I do know he’s gotta watch himself …

Okay … taking a break here, but I’ll be back in about 12 or slightly more.  Until then, I’ll see ya on the flip side!