Month: January 2015
USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” and the history of the Charity Single
Benefit concerts are so ubiquitous that just about anyone can understand the concept of trading entertainment for charity. We’re familiar with that concept, ourselves.
Prior to 1984, the idea of a bunch of artists getting together to record a … Read the rest
The Muppets take on Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend”
If there is any remaining doubt that The Muppets are the greatest thing ever – well, excluding Muppets Most Wanted – then feast your eyes on Mylo the Cat’s incredible mash-up of Biz Markie’s legendary tone-deaf 1990 hit “Just a … Read the rest
Rock Quotes: Ritchie Blackmore
Now Hear This: “Everytime You Go Away”
Listen beyond the hits and discover weird, wonderful alternate versions of your favorite songs.
YOU’VE HEARD THIS:
By the time he took the stage at Live Aid, British crooner Paul Young was already an international superstar, and was starting … Read the rest
Rock Quotes: Chrissie Hynde
Grateful Dead to celebrate 50th anniversary with July concerts
Fifty years after their formation, and twenty years after the death of beloved frontman Jerry Garcia, the four living members of the Grateful Dead are set to reunite for three 50th-anniversary shows July 3-5 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
They … Read the rest
Rock Quotes: Keith Richards
Remember Nilsson: The Harry Chronicles, Vol. 1
January 15th
Today is the anniversary of a great artistic and cultural loss, yet one that was sadly barely noticed at the time. On January 15, 1994, Harry Nilsson died in his sleep from a heart attack at age 54. … Read the rest
Now Hear This: “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll”
Listen beyond the hits and discover weird, wonderful alternate versions of your favorite songs.
YOU’VE HEARD THIS:
In 1981 Joan Jett and the Blackhearts released the rock anthem “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” The single shot to #1 on the … Read the rest
Rock Quote: Pete Townshend
Now Hear This: “Heart and Soul”
Listen beyond the hits and discover weird, wonderful alternate versions of your favorite songs.
YOU’VE HEARD THIS:
In September, 1983, Huey Lewis and the News dropped their long-awaited lead single from Sports, the album that would take them from … Read the rest
Rock Quotes: The Edge
WTF Country Mashup
You know how your rocker friends say that every country song sounds exactly the same? Actually, they might have a point…
Songwriter (and Pro Tools extraordinaire) Gregory Todd has crafted a jaw-dropping WTF mashup that combines six … SIX (!) … Read the rest
Rock Quotes: Cyndi Lauper
The Wags Wire: Macca vs. Jacko: Round Umpteen
by Steve Wagner
Say, say, say … did you hear that the Sony/ATV music catalog (the beleaguered Sony’s stake at least) is once again up for sale? As this publishing company houses the Northern Songs of John Lennon and Paul … Read the rest
Rock Quotes: James Hetfield
Rock Quotes: Elvis Presley
Happy 80th Birthday to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll! January 8th, 2015. … Read the rest
The Wags Wire: A Hubba Hubba Happy Birthday to the King of Rock & Roll
by Steve Wagner
As we all know, Elvis never really left the building. Fully deified by the end of the 1950s, Presley is the original mythic archetype of the “rock star,” and his image, music, and influence is still ubiquitous … Read the rest
The Lost World: Times Square (1980)
Snatching lost art from the jaws of obscurity.
Every now and again, all the pieces to a dazzling puzzle can be on the table, and the picture is ever so close to coming together. Then some jackhole comes along … Read the rest