the Rock Report

First up: We’ve just gotta give some industrial-strength kudos to Peter Criss, who just dropped some 411 into the mix by admitting he was diagnosed with breast cancer last year … but, thanx to early detection … has beaten the monster!

Natch, we’re thankful … but, infinitely more importantly, Pete has sounded a “wake-up call” throughout this breast cancer awareness mega-cause!

Yes, men can get it!! When they do, they gotta drop the macho BS and get treatment – otherwise, it can spread out and kill them as any other cancer could!

Dudes (yeah, I’m talkin’ to you!!), lemme ask ya: If you’ve been diagnosed as either at-risk or actually havin’ this disease, which is better: Bein’ so damned concerned with your “manly, robust, macho” image that you don’t get any treatment, or wantin’ to live badly enough to swallow yer friggin’ pride and “gettin’ ‘er done”??

Pete, you deserve mega props for bringin’ that out into the open and reminding us male people of this human species that, yeah … it can happen to us!
Great to know yer in remission, mate … hope ya have a lonnnng, healthy and rockin’ life!

Speakin’ of the big “C”, Shelby Singleton, aged 77, who bought Sun Records from Sam Phillips, died this past Wednesday from brain cancer.

After buying the label, e added greats like Roger Miller and Ray Stevens to his roster and songs like Bruce Channel’s “Hey! Baby” (the song — known for its harmonica backing — was the one that influenced John Lennon to add the instrument to Love Me Do).
Shel also produced hits on his own, like Jeannie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley P.T.A.”

While we cheer Pete Criss on during his remission, we also send condolences to Shel’s family and cohorts. The man was truly a legend and, without his influence, the country-music airwaves would’ve ended up sounding a mite different.

Okay … that’s all for this early go-round, but I’ll be back shortly with more, so stay tuned …

In the meantime, whether you’re a guy or gal, take a page from Peter Criss’ adventure and get that all-important check-up! Ya wanna keep yerself alive and well and on planet Earth for as long as ya can! After all … THE PARTY’S JUST STARTING!!

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 …

Geez … talk about makin’ a guy feel old alluvasudden:

Metallica’s song, Enter Sandman, has been voted the top classic all-time rock song by listeners of 106.1 Rock Radio(touted as Manchester [UK]’s first classic rock station).

CLASSIC?!?  Ouch!!

Then, ummmm, wh … what does that make the hot sounds of The Sixties??  Are we now antiques or, even worse, old (godforgivemeferusin’thisword) Relics??

Waitaminnit:  That … that would include (gulp!)  … THE BEATLES!
Sacrilege …

‘Course, it helps to know that only about 13,000 cast their votes — and that’s only in the Man area. If you included, say, every state in America and whatever’s up in Canada besides elk (heh-heh … sorry. Didn’t mean to open a Canada worms there. I’ve toured there and love the people. Can tolerate the elk), not to mention other countries, living or dead, ya might just see a different list.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m a humongomendous fan of Hetfield & Co. (my fave is also from the “black album”. Song’s called Don’t Tread On Me) … but, by the time ES came out, I was already entering childhood (second stage, not including wife, sons and taxes).

Anyway, the 106.1 final top 20 looked like this:

1 – Enter Sandman, Metallica
2 – Back In Black, AC/DC
3 – Stairway To Heaven, Led Zeppelin
4 – Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd
5 – Sweet Child O’ Mine, Guns N’ Roses
6 – Comfortably Numb, Pink Floyd
7 – Whole Lotta Rosie, AC/DC
8 – Kashmir, Led Zeppelin
9 – Ace Of Spades, Motorhead
10 – One, Metallica
11 – Run To The Hills – Iron Maiden
12 – Welcome To The Jungle, Guns N’ Roses
13 – Paranoid, Black Sabbath
14 – Master Of Puppets, Metallica
15 – Smells Like Teen Spirit, Nirvana
16 – Won’t Get Fooled Again, The Who
17 – Bat Out Of Hell, Meat Loaf
18 – Highway To Hell, AC/DC
19 – Nothing Else Matters, Metallica
20 – Hotel California, The Eagles

I dunno … maybe I’ll be on there next (WAIT!! FOUR TIMES,Jim?? Don’tcha think yer overdoin’ it a bit?? lol).

Anyway, that’s it for this edition. Right now, the nurse is wheelin’ us old antique relics into the nursing-home cafeteria for our soup and soft cookies. Maybe somebody’ll play When I’m 64 on the pie-any in the corner …

See ya on the flip side …

The news hit me like a ton of bricks when I heard it yesterday:
The legend that started as “New York’s Demo Queen”, Ellie Greenwich, has died at the age of 68.  Undoubtedly, she was the greatest and most prolific female songwriter the rock world has ever known.

Along with her then-husband, Jeff Barry, she churned out hits that will forever be part of our musical heritage.  In fact, some of my musical mates have said that she was the female equivalent to Smokey Robinson, as she could pen more emotion into her songs than anyone!

Now, for you who aren’t familiar with the Barry/Greenwich team (and why Jeff was always listed first in the credits is beyond me!), see if you remember these hits:

• Chapel of Love 
• Doo Wah Diddy
• Leader of The Pack 
• Twist and Shout 
• Da-Doo-Ron-Ron 
• I Can Hear Music 
• Baby, I Love You 
• Be My Baby
• Shout
• River Deep, Mountain High
• Hanky Panky
• Look of Love

There are hundreds of other hits — too many to mention in this post (so click the link, okay?) — that she co-wrote with either her husband or others.  But as you can see by those few examples, and to put it mildly, her songwriting helped put stateside rock firmly on the map!

But Ellie (her last name, btw [and because I’ve heard it spoken wrong too many times], was pronounced “GREN’-ich”.  Yeah … like the Village …) did more than just write.

As a part of the famed Brill Building team of songwriters, she discovered a talented songwriter/singer named Neil Diamond, and co-produced his songs Cherry, Cherry and Kentucky Woman (also, along with Jeff, she sang background on some of Neil’s hits).

She also co-wrote songs for The Monkees … and even did the voice of tambourine-playing Betty Cooper as part of the cartoon singing-group The Archies.

In 1985, a musical about Ellie’s contributions to our genre, appropriately called Leader of The Pack, opened at the Ambassador Theatre in New York and was nominated for the prestigious Tony Award.  The show not only showcased her music (she would come onstage as her modern-day self in the finale) but also introduced future stars like Dinah Manoff (Empty Nest) and Jasmine Guy (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air).

Ellie died of a heart attack at St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in NYC on Wednesday, just a few days after she was admitted for treatment of pneumonia.  This Eagle … and music fans from around the world … are mourning the loss of music’s first lady of songwriting.

Today, earthly music sounds a little sadder, a little forlorn.  But, as you read this, she’s among the greats like Buddy, Elvis, John, Jimi and others — writing and arranging new songs for the celestial band.  Soon, the skies will be brighter … and thatmusic will carry on each breeze we feel …

Yep … it’s been a hot summer all right! And it seems that, whenever we have one of these egg-frying heat waves, we begin hearing more songs that reflect the season.

For example, Summer In The City by the Lovin’ Spoonful. Not only does the song have a great beat, but it directly addresses the season’s heat as well. It can make the back of your neck feel dirty and gritty by hearing the jackhammers in the first half of the song.

One of the best versions of Sly and the Family Stone’s Hot Fun In The Summertime — the iconic sun-time classic about a “county fair in the country sun” — is the one they recorded shortly after their performance at Woodstock in 1969. A mix of blues, pop and a little soul, matched to a tempo that epitomized “them summer days”, the song’s been a standard on classic and oldies stations during the mid-year heat.

Of course, Mungo Jerry’s big (and only) hit, In The Summertime not only could cool the summertime heat, but it also was recorded in a skiffle style.

While side “A” was their biggest hit, side “B” was just as cool (it’s called Mighty Man).

There are quite a few others, but nothing can really compare to The Beach Boys’ All Summer Long for lounging outside, grabbing some rays or just frolicking in the pool.

Of course, today, you’ve got the same title but a different song in the ASL that recently gave Kid Rock a gold nod.  A tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd (complete with parts of Sweet Home Alabama) and summer memories, it’s a great song to cool down with!

One more:  The Fore’s hit relaxer, Lazy Day (not to be confused with the Spanky and Our Gang classic), gives every listener a “feel-good” attitude about love and summertime!

More sizzling summer tunes coming up … but, for now, I’m gonna go inspect the insides of my eyelids for a few hours.  Soooooooo …

see ya on the flip side.

WOW!!

With so many fabulous gigs under their belt, a wildly-growing fan base, soundtracks on two movies (Rare and Unsigned: The Beatles and A Very British Cover Up), interviews, great reviews, a Wikipedia page and albums that are at the top of the indie best-seller lists, it was only a matter of time before The Fore would be in the running for best independent band of 2009!

And you’ve got the chance to vote them into the top spot! Just click here to listen (once you click the “play” button, you’ll get the chance to vote [click “become a fan!”] and leave your comments).

Meanwhile, the lads are still going strong with their venues (the latest being the famous Beatles Day celebration in Liverpool as well as the MIATM Festival), interviews with UA Radio (who’ll soon be doing a review of their album, Run and Hide) and Express FM, and so much more! Believe me, these guys are more than amazing with their music, stage presence and fan-friendliness. And they’ve done it all in the same manner as the greats of the Sixties: hard work, belief in themselves and their music, and great management!
So click here to listen and vote!
And, on behalf of the lads, thank you!

RON WOOD — VAMPIRE?

Apparently! The Rolling Stones’ guitarist has been portrayed as a vampire sucking the blood of a blonde victim in a portrait done by his brother-in-law.

Paul Karslake, an artist whose sister is Woody’s estranged wife Jo, came up with the idea when he was commissioned to create a picture for the US television show True Blood on the British channel FX this week. He said the vampire in the painting reminded him a lot of his famous brother-in-law, and he went to extreme lengths to create the desired effect, even using his own blood!

Wood, who’s 62, left his wife of 23 years a year agooo after he started a relationship with Russian cocktail waitress Ekaterina Ivanova.

Okay … more in less than 24. HEY! REMEMBER TO VOTE (see above link for details) and I’ll see ya on the flip side …

Y’know, this mess about who gets MJ’s kids has really gotten outta hand. I mean, if one of us were a custodial parent and had died, most legal eagles woulda used the following order to place our kids: (1) The child(ren)’s other parent; (2) A grandparent; (3) A brother or sister with good record or (4) a qualified relative.
If those didn’t work, then, sadly, the “foster care” engine would start revving up.

But Michael’s will stated (1) his mother, or, in the event of her incapacity to tend to them, (2) Diana Ross. Since he knew Diana extremely well (like, in her words, a “big sister”) — and since he loved his children more than even his career — in his mind, he made the right decision.

Of course, we’ve all heard that Prince and Paris’ biological mother, Debbie Rowe, is allegedly gonna make a play for custody.  While she’s been conspicuously absent from any contact with the kids for too long, we’ve gotta realize this is still normal in legal cases.  Maybe not just, but normal …

But what’s set me off is that, now, Michael’s father, Joke Jackson, is planning to make a play for custody!  And, believe me, if he does, the sxxt’s gonna hit the fan!
It’s apparent to everyone what Joke really wants; he’s not looking for the welfare of Paris, Prince or Blanket.  He wants to exploit these three cherubs for his own benefit.

Plainly put, he’s looking for a “Jackson 3″ to carry on the originals’ legacy … and he wants to cash in on it.
Why, then — when most normal parents would be grieving over the loss of their son (and, listen — no matter what you feel about MJ himself, he was someone’s SON … someone’s BROTHER!  And we’ve got to have a heart for the family at this time), Joke was hyping some BS about a record company he was starting?
We already know he was an abusive father.  We know that he pushed these kids (the original Jackson 5) incessantly.  And now, this?   Whaddya think would happen?
IMHO, he’s the biggest clown in this custody circus …

THE FORE WIPE-OUT!

Prior to this weekend’s dynamite shows at Liverpool’s Beatles Day and the MIATM Festival, The Fore took the time for two fab interviews:
The first was with Express FM on Gary and Geoff’s radio show. The 15-minute broadcast brought the voices and personality of the fabulous Foresome into the homes of thousands of anxious fans! Download and/or listen here!
Then they did a great print interview with UA Radio — which provided an upclose-and-personal look at the lads. Get to know the band here!

Now, on their Beatles’ Day gig, The Fore did something unusual. They performed a cover of the legendary surf instrumental, Wipe-Out (originally by The Surfaris). The song showcased their amazing drummer Simon Thompson — and, while still maintaining the feel of the original, they put their own mark on the famed anthem!
Here … see for yourselves:

With that, I’ll see ya on the flip side (PS Stay tuned for an important announcement within the week!)

There are rock bands … then there’s THE FORE!

I’m tellin’ ya, yardbirds: there’s no stopping these lads as they climb the musical stairs to superstardom. Already, they’re driving fans wild throughout the UK and Europe with their pure, raw, Mersey/Hamburg-style rock. Their latest CD, Run and Hide, is destined to become one of the most popular indie albums of 2009!

And this Sunday, on Calon-FM, the Unsigned Chart Show will feature their hit Little Louisa, where they’re currently holding the #1 position on the charts! The show’s gonna be at 2:00 PM GMT (meaning 9:00 AM for us Eastern statesiders, so be sure to set yer clock!), so don’t miss it!

Remember: You (yes, you!) can vote to keep this song at the top! All ya gotta do is click here to do it (just be sure it’s by Sunday morning!) and type (in the appropriate boxes) The Fore, Little Louisa, why you dig the song, and your email address. Then click submit, and yer done!).

The song’s already one of the most-requested songs in their tours, and (Huh? What do you MEAN you haven’t heard it yet?? Ooookay then … just click this link and get ready to rock [btw, yer gonna love the savage beat]!) Sheesh … ya cut me off mid-sentence! Ahhh, well … while Little Lou’s playin’ in the background, let’s move on:

FROM UK TO US AND BEYOND

The lads are really starting to heat up the circuit! From radio stations in the UK and US are coming offers for interviews; the famous Beatles-A-Rama also want them for airplay — and they’re headin’ for Cardiff, Wales, for the premiere of A Very British Coverup, the new British comedy movie that features their music!

Now, I don’t have enough space on this post (snif!) to get to everything, but, people, if you haven’t taken in Spencer, Si, Matt and Nathan yet, you’ve just gotta hear for yourselves! First, hit their site at TheForeBand.com or, to get the very latest from the lads themselves, be sure to bookmark their blog!
Second, ya just gotta dig these guys when they’re in concert! If yer around ANY gig featuring The Fore, then drive, get a ride, take a bus or cab or walk if ya haveta — but GO!
Trust me … you’ll be leavin’ the venue with an enjoyable, unshakable case of Fore Fever!

Okay … that’s it for this edition, but stay tuned … there’s more to come!  (By the way, I’ll be including dates, times and stations for every Fore interview, so … keep yer dial right here!)

See ya on the flip side …

A poem that folk-rock legend Bob Dylan wrote when he was only 16 years old is going on the auction block at Christie’s — and is expected to sell for up to $15,000 (£10,000) on June 23.

Still known by his given name (Bob Zimmerman, in case you didn’t know …) wrote a poem about a little pooch who met a tragic end.

He wrote Little Buddy during the summer of 1957 for the newspaper at Herzl Camp in Webster, Wisconsin.

Now, you might’ve read about it already, but here’s the poem itself:

Little Buddy

Broken hearted and so sad
Big blue eyes all covered with tears
Was a picture of sorrow to see
Kneeling close to the side
Of his pal and only pride
A little lad, these words he told me

He was such a lovely doggy
And to me he was such fun
But today as we played by the way
A drunken man got mad at him
Because he barked in joy
He beat him and he’s dying here today
Will you call the doctor please
And tell him if he comes right now
He’ll save my precious doggy here he lay

Then he left the fluffy head
But his little dog was dead
Just a shiver and he slowly passed away
He didn’t know his dog had died
So I told him as he cried
Come with me son we’ll get that doctor right away

But when I returned
He had his little pal upon his knee
And the teardrops, they were blinding his big blue eyes
Your too late sir my doggy’s dead
And no one can save him now
But I’ll meet my precious buddy up in the sky

By a tiny narrow grave
Where the willows sadly wave
Are the words so clear you’re sure to find

Little Buddy Rest In Peace
God Will Watch You Thru The Years
Cause I Told You In My Dreams That You
Were Mine

Bobby Zimmerman

Now, yardbirds, I dunno about you, but, bein’ a dog owner myself (or is that the other way ’round?  You know what I mean …), that was some kinda strong!  It’s no wonder that little Bobby Z. ended up being the song-poet who touched the very soul of a generation!

PHIL’s PHINAL PHIGHT

Yesterday, prosecutors in L.A. asked the judge presiding over Phil Spector’s murder trial to sentence him to 19-years-to-life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson in 2003.*
Now, while fifteen years is the required sentence, prosecutors want an additional four years tacked on for the use of a gun. They also want Spector be ordered to pay at least $26,500 to Lana’s family for her funeral and their mental health costs. The family has filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit on top of all this.
But keep yer ears perked, because the judge is gonna sentence Spector on May 29.
(*=Since there was no conclusive proof that the perp pulled the trigger, that it was premeditated and since the jury couldn’t come up unanimously with the first degree charge, the judge had no option but convict him of Murder Two).

Okay … that’s it for now, so … WAIT!
One more thing: If ya haven’t done it yet, be sure to vote for The Fore’s song, Little Louisa, for the top position on the Unsigned Charts!
Now, you can vote here and, if ya wanna hear the song (in its entirety) again, just click here!

Me?? I’ll see ya on the flip side …

FINALLY!!
The Ramones’ late singer Joey Ramone will be inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame tonight — seven years after the rest of the band!

Y’see, they accidentally forgot his award and acceptance from the ceremony in 2002 (his statue was actually left on the podium). Sadly, Joey left us two years later.
Anyway, they’ll recreate it tonight at the Hall’s New York Annex. Tommy Ramone and Joey’s brother, Mickey Leigh, will be on hand to accept it.

And Peter Gabriel (remember him from Genesis?) was announced a couple of days ago (Tuesday, to be precise) as the co-winner of Sweden’s Polar Music Prize.
Their committee said he “not only had a significant influence on the development of popular music– he has redefined the very concept.”
Venezuelan classical composer Antonio Abreu will receive their awards (and the one million kronor [hey … sounds like a lot, but it’s only $122,000 American] each that goes with them) August 31 from none other than King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm.

Some sad news to report: Clive Scott, keyboardist and vocalist with the UK band Jigsaw (remember their 1975 hit, (You’ve Blown It All) Sky High) passed away Sunday, just two weeks after falling off a ladder, the blow to his head requiring brain surgery. The Manchester quartet charted four times in America (twice in Britain), including the top 30 hits “Sky High” (#3 in1975) and “Love Fire” (#30 in 1976). Clive also co-wrote most of the group’s songs, as well as Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods’ hit, “Who Do You Think You Are?”
The double-E and readers send our condolences to the Scott family during this time of sadness. From what I’ve heard and read, Clive was as great a person as he was a talent …

Okay … we’re gonna take a short break, and be back here within the next 24 with more. So, until then …
Keep yer eyes on the skies, yer feet on the ground, yer heart with the music … and I’ll see you on the flip side!