the Rock Report

Yep. He’s finally made it to intergalactic stardom …

Former Beatle and working-class hero, the late John Lennon now has a crater on the Moon named after him.

It’s called The John Lennon Peace Crater, and it’s on the earth side (not the Dark Side. That belongs to Pink Floyd …) of the Moon. Six kilometres wide and 990 metres deep, it’s located in the Lake Of Dreams.

Personally, I believe the man deserves the honor! After all, our orbiting orb has long been associated with love and peace. So who better to name part of it after than John??

THE FACES (minus Rod) TO REUNITE

‘Tis true!! The rest of the surviving members, minus Rod Stewart (who has “prior obligations”), will be playing a one-off gig on October 25 at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It’ll be part of a Music Members Benevolent Fund benefit.

Though Rod won’t be making it, Classic Rock magazine reports that “a host of special guests will help out on vocals.”

Still, you’ll have guitarist Ronnie Wood (who started touring with Rolling Stones even before Faces broke up in 1975); Kenney Jones (who replaced Keith Moon as drummer for The Who in 1979); and keyboardist Ian McLagan (who went on to solo and session work.).
Of course, their amazing bassist, Ronnie “Plonk” Lane, died awhile back of cancer, so Bill Wyman (ex-Rolling Stones) will fill his spot.

Dickie Peterson, lead singer and bassist with Blue Cheer, died yesterday (12 Oct.) after a long battle with cancer. Jim Morrison called the band “The single most powerful band I’ve ever seen.” They were best known for their re-make of Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues” (this was the second of three major remakes of that song; the other two were done by The Who and country star Alan Jackson).  Peterson was 61.

Okay … that’s it for now.  i’ll see ya later this evening …

Eight years ago, on a dark and stormy night in A-Town, I’d just finished the first edition of a hand-held (hmph … sounds more timely.  Usedta be “hard-copy”) newspaper called The Window and didn’t wanna just twiddle thumbs (well, if they’d been mine, maybe …).  Realizing that newspapers have the mystical power of stimulating cats’ bladders, I wanted to build one that would be impervious to the incontinent. 
 
TA-DAAAAA!!!  Enter the Great Internet Newspaper,  a sort-of-literary speed-bump on the info superhighway!! It lasted for all of 312 weeks!  And it apparently caught on pretty well, because, by the time all was said and done, the ’spaper netted around 35,000 faithful followers each month (I assume they were faithful.  Dunno if Letterman or Gosselin were readin’ it or not …).

Due to endeavour-overload (sounds like a NASA phrase, for some reason …), I hadta close shop in 2006 with the promise to readers that it’d be back just as soon as the smoke cleared a bit.

Suddenly, all the cheering stopped … Anyway,

It’s back online as promised (awright … just cussed me out??) with news from both sides of the Atlantic and other articles that no cat can pee on.  And, since I just put it back online, there’ll be a lot more added to it as time goes on!
In this issue (and, btw, each one will be archived [andnoitsnotablog]) you’ll find The Fore, Ron Ryan, Look To The Stars, Marge Simpson naked, strange news (other than the preceding), quotes, links and more!

So here’s yer invite to join in the fun!  But, ABOVE all, keep yer dial set Right HERE … because this is where the rock’s gonna thrive, beyond nine-to-five,  stayin’ alive and in overdrive!
Now … enough jive … I fergot to give ya the link to the site: Just click greatinternetnewspaper.com … and yer there (no ads, pop-ups or coffee served …)

Okay … that’s it for my little off-subject thang. So, until tomorrow, when we get back to the bidness of Rocque and Rolle …
see ya on the flip side.

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!!

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 …

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!

Ahhh, and what a week it was, yardbirds …

On Sept. 15, 1961 (a mere 48 years ago!), a young band from Hawthorne, California called The Pendletones had their first real recording session in L.A. Due to the big coastal craze at the time, the band does a small, self-penned song called “Surfin’”.

When it finally hit the local charts, everyone started callin’ them The Beach Boys.

The rest is history …

One year later, Brian Epstein brought a band he managed to do an interview with Peter Jones of the London Daily Mirror. Jones did the interview, but concluded that “The Beatles they are a ‘nothing’ group.”

But one year and one day later, the Fab Four released their hit, She Loves You (b/w I’ll Get You) in the states … but on Swan Records. But it didn’t make the charts until a year later, when the Invasion was in full swing (it was already #1 in the UK).

By the way: Remember The Beatles’ fab tune, A Hard Day’s Night (from the movie of the same name)? Have ya ever wonder why no one’s been able to get exactly the same sound the band had when they play the song’s opening chord?
It’s because they had all three guitars (George was on 12-string here) and Sir George Martin’s piano playing the same specific note at the same time! And, of course, ya had The Beatles’ inimitable attack!

Gettin’ back to the timeline: On September 15, 1964, John was interrupted in the midst of his song by a Cleveland (Ohio) police inspector took his mic and asked the band to leave the stage for fifteen minutes so they could calm down the screaming crowd!

Two days later, the Fab Four played a gig in Kansas — on what was supposed to be their day off! The pay wasn’t bad, though: They got $150,000 for the show (figure that’d be almost five times as much in today’s dollar!)

Okay … that’s it for this brief post (but wait’ll ya read the next one. It’s about how The Beatles helped bring down Communism [and, no, I’m not joking!]). Until sometime during the next 24 — and at all other times — you can catch the double-E (aka Chuck Hinson) on Facebook, Twitter and Great Internet Newspaper&#8482 (yeah, matter of fact I do get around!).
So, until next time, remember …
keep your eyes on the skies, your feet on the ground, your heart with the music …
and I’ll see you on the flip side …

It’s almost time …

Yep … in just about 24 hours from now, Beatlemania is gonna be striking again!
Now, in case you don’t know what I’m talking about, just crawl out from under that rock you’re usin’ and lemme tell ya:
Not only does Rock Band: The Beatles come out, but we’re also gonna see the full, digitally remastered library of Beatles hits on the stands (and wanna bet they’ll go #1 on the Billboard?).

Now, I dunno a thing about that Rock Band business; promotions of the real thing, yes.  But the video game (or whatever it’s called)?  Nope.  No doubt, though, that it’s gonna start a resurgence of Beatlemania … and that’s definitely a plus …

GEEZ … YA CAN’T PLEASE EVERYONE …

I just got an email from a mate in the UK who plugged me in to some cat named Chez Pazienza — and what he has to say about the Sixties (aka “baby-boomer generation”, aka “children of peace”, aka “today’s sensible Democrats”) is enough to bristle the hair on a bald man (believe me, it works!).

He’s obviously really down on who we are … rather, who he thinks we are.
Here … read it yourself …

My take?? Okay, overblown dude, tell me: Have you championed civil, women’s, voting or gay rights? Have you protested an end a vicious, non-winnable war? And, with yer language, do you even think about peace?
Bro, we did these things back then … and we won those rights … the end of that war … and brought PEACE back into the program!!
Now … what have YOU done, hotshot??
So we’re off-kilter ’cause we wanna spread the sounds and “feel” of the era today?? Hey … check yer latest Arbitrons&#0174, man. Read Rolling Stone&#7874 or USA Today&#0174. You’ll see that’s what today’s generation wants!

In short, man … give it a rest!! Getcher facts straight, look at both sides of the picture, get that f*** garbage outta yer mouth, and then talk to us, huh??

See ya on the fli … oh … waitaminnit:
Guess I’d better ’splain where I’ve been over the past few days. Y’see, this Hu-Man Eagle (well, m’first name is actually “Hugh”!) is also U.S. Press Agent for The Fore … and a journalist and reviewer to boot. And I just got overwhelmed with m’work whilst fighting back an umbilical hernia …
But I’m back … and ready to return to the business of rock and roll!
That being said …
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 …