The Show Must Go On

Today I'm really missing the genius of Freddie Mercury. It's hard to believe he's been gone for 18 years.

I grew up in the same house my grandmother and uncle lived in, as well as my own parents and sister. My uncle is 12 years older than me and consequently more like an older brother than an uncle. I owe a lot of my musical education to him, as he constantly had the stereo blasting at all hours of the day and night. It's due to him that I was introduced at a young age to the brilliance of Queen. I clearly remember getting upset with him and his girlfriend once because they were going to see Queen in concert and they weren't taking me (I'm guessing I was around 8 at the time). My uncle used to take his camera and a huge lens into all the concerts he went to back then, and we pored over the photos he took at that show. It was classic Freddie in the black leather outfit.

I had access to all my uncle's albums any time I wanted them as long as I was careful, but I proudly bought The Game album all on my own. As I got older I thought no music collection was complete without copies of A Night at the Opera or Day at the Races. I've searched high and low for a copy of the soundtrack to the movie Highlander because of Queen's score. I sat through the movie Flash Gordon countless times because Queen's music was the absolute best part of it. The scene featuring "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Wayne's World is one of the best musical moments on film. And absolutely no one can deny that Freddie Mercury ruled Live Aid. When he got everyone in Wembley Stadium doing the hand movements in "Radio Gaga"..... brilliant. If you haven't seen it, check for it on YouTube.

Freddie Mercury died in 1991 at the age of 45 from complications from AIDS. It shocked and upset a lot of people, not merely because he died, but because he didn't announce until the day before his death that he was gay and had the disease. Activists claim if he had come out earlier, more attention would have been given to the disease and more money raised for a cure, but Mercury was notoriously private. Personally, I didn't care. I was shocked and upset because one of my favorite singers was gone, and I knew his death would leave a huge hole in music that will never be filled.

I never got to see Queen perform live. But it wouldn't be wrong for me to say they have been, and continue to be, one of my favorite bands. I could go on and on about Freddie's musical abilities, his songwriting, his inimitable voice. I could wax poetic about how Queen incorporated all types of musical styles into their own style of rock music and carried it it off impeccably. The bottom line is that Freddie Mercury was the king of frontmen, leading the band with style, swagger and pure energy. I miss him.

God Gave Rock and Roll To You

The first time the death of a rock and roll performer affected me was back in 1991. Coincidentally, it wasn't just one person, but two who died on the same day that shook me up. The first person was Freddie Mercury, lead singer for Queen, but I'll deal with that tomorrow on the actual anniversary. The second was Eric Carr of KISS.

Anyone who's read any of my other posts or looked at the photos on the right knows I count KISS as influential in my life and in my love of rock music. I was a huge fan of Peter Criss, the original drummer for the band, and wasn't too happy when he was replaced in 1980 by Eric Carr. But eventually, Eric won me over and I rocked out to his beats just as much as Peter's.

Eric Carr died at the age of 41 of a very rare type of cancer, heart cancer. It was a shock to hear of his death, especially as he was so young. KISS is such a force of nature, it seemed like nothing could touch them, and then to lose their backbone.... It was a terrible tragedy.

Today, in honor of Eric, I pulled out all the recordings I had of him behind the kit and had a listen. I'm sure I'm not the only KISS fan doing that today.

And the saga continues....

Will the is he or isn't he Aerosmith story ever die?

Now it seems that Bradley Whitford and Joey Kramer have jumped into the fray. They are making allegations about Steven Tyler's sobriety and questioning his behavior, saying he's not acting like a "sober person." From what I've read, it sounds to me like they are actively pursuing a new singer.

Joey Kramer said the band has their 40th anniversary coming up and they want to be able to go out and celebrate that with their fans. Well, guess what, guys? Aerosmith ain't Aerosmith without Steven Tyler. From a fan, for the sake of all fans, pull it together.

I Wonder....

if anyone will care if we see Roger Daltrey's or Pete Townsend's nipple during their Super Bowl halftime show?

To Hell and Back

I love to read about as much as I love music. So it's only natural for me to love books about music and musicians. I've read lots of biographies and autobiographies, but none has stayed with me like The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx.

I wouldn't call myself a crazy Motley Crue fan, but I was definitely into them back in the day. I thought Tommy Lee was the hottie in the band and Nikki was the wacked out druggie. Intelligent, yes, but volatile and messed up. I remember when he overdosed and "died" before being brought back by a shot of adrenalin to the heart. My best friend Eye even used Nikki's overdose in a script for a video she made in our a/v class. I played the person who discussed how even though Nikki Sixx, my idol, used heroin, it wouldn't make me do it. My performance, of course, was Oscar worthy.

Nowadays, Tommy Lee is so sleazy that I feel like I need to scrape him off the bottom of my shoe, and Nikki, clean and sober, is still intelligent, but also compelling and let's face it, plain hot. I was really looking forward to reading his book.

The Heroin Diaries is a collection of diary entries between Christmas 1986 and 1987. The book chronicles the recording of the Girls Girls Girls album and subsequent tour, as well as his relationships with the rest of the band, friends, his then girlfriend Vanity and his family. It also features photos, lyrics and artwork.

The first thought that comes to mind only a few pages into it is how is this man still alive? On almost every page he is ingesting some sort of illegal substance and/or alcohol. He struggles on each page with the knowledge that he is slowly killing himself, but is in so much emotional pain that being high is the only way he can get through the day. There were times when I had to put the book down and walk away because it was too painful to read on. I really have to give Nikki credit for putting this out for the whole world to read. It is unflinching, gripping, and palpably painful.

The Heroin Diaries debuted at #7 on the best seller list, with a portion of the proceeds going to the charitable organization Running Wild in the Night. With the band Sixx A.M., Nikki also released an accompanying soundtrack with the stand out track "Life Is Beautiful."

Music may be Nikki's first love, and his art, and his chosen way to express himself, but let's face it, Motley Crue will never be Grammys' darling. Nikki is now turning towards writing and photography as other means of making his mark on the world, and I'm really interested in what he'll come up with next. It would have been a shame if this man had succumbed to his demons.

How Old Are You Guys, Five?

I hate he said/she said stories. I really hate he said/he said stories. I especially hate he said/he said stories when the he's in question are in their 60s.

Request to Steven Tyler and Joe Perry - cut the crap.

Is he or isn't he? Is Steven Tyler leaving Aerosmith? Well, get out your scorecards. After Tyler's accident this summer, the word was the band was taking a break. Then Joe Perry started talking, and things started to sound a little different. Next he took to Twitter and started tweeting about "certain band members" leaving. Oh really, who could that be? Steven Tyler's daughter Mia tweets that Joe needs to keep his mouth shut. Tyler himself then shows up at a Joe Perry solo gig in New York and gives Joe a verbal finger, telling him that although Joe's a man of many colors, he, Steven, is the whole effin' rainbow.

Enough. You are both acting like you're in junior high school.

And given the fact that Joe Perry just released a solo album called Have Guitar, Will Travel, I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this is just a very poor excuse to get publicity for the CD.

But seriously. Just stop. You're nosediving into Britney and Lindsay territory, and personally, as a longtime fan, I don't want to see you go there. Aerosmith is better than that.

Okay.....

So Jon Bon Jovi is going to appear on the season premiere of "Inside the Actor's Studio" with James Lipton.

Um, did I miss something?

Go to http://www.imdb.com and search for him. Yes, he has acting credits. Yes, he's appeared in movies and on TV. But is he "Inside the Actor's Studio" material?

I would have to say no.

Granted, there have been other musical artists on the show, but we're talking people like Elton John and Diana Ross. People in another stratosphere of career longevity and contributions. And okay, Bravo is owned by NBC, and Bon Jovi is the "artist in residence" for NBC for a while. But I just can't see it.

Might have to tune in just for the fun factor (and to see him get blown off the submarine one more time).

Strong Women Rock

Rihanna finally broke her silence about the assault involving Chris Brown earlier this year. Although she says she was embarrassed and humiliated after it happened, she feels that she did the right thing by breaking up with him after it happened. Rihanna realized that she sets an example for other young women, so she felt that she needed to get out of a situation that others might find themselves in. She didn't want to be responsible for any young woman staying in an abusive relationship. Good girl.

Evanescence, with killer frontwoman Amy Lee, played a one-off gig in New York City as a warm-up gig for a South American tour. They rocked a full set and promised new material next year. Can't wait!

Baby, One More Time...

I'm feeling a hole in my life. There's something missing, something that's just not right with my universe. What could it be?

Oh, wait, I know. I miss Rock of Love.

For those of you living under a rock for the past two years, Rock of Love was VH1's "reality" dating show featuring Poison's Bret Michaels. Twenty women vie for his affections while living in a mansion or on a tour bus, and each week women are eliminated until one remains to be his "Rock of Love."

Bret searched for his Rock of Love not once, not twice, but three times. As far as I know, he's still searching. But while he was searching, there was lots of salacious fun to be had.

You know how when you drive by a car wreck, you want to look away but just can't? That's a perfect description for this show. Surprisingly, Bret turned out to be sweet and kind, while the women trying to win Bret's heart were quite a motley crew. Strippers, models, actresses and a few semi-normal girls dominated the show, and the ensuing sluttiness, cat fights, name calling, backstabbing and general bitchiness turned the program into must see TV for me. For millions of others too, judging by the ratings for all three seasons.

There's no doubt the show gave a boost to Bret's career. It showcased his solo music, including the theme song which he wrote especially for it. It brought bigger crowds out to his live performances and really turned him into a household name. He even made it into People magazine's "Sexiest" issue. But, I guess Bret is done. Since the third time was obviously not the charm, I guess he decided to hang up the ol' bandana. And I have to give VH1 credit. They're trying to fill the dating show void by introducing a new show with actor Antonio Sabato Jr., but it lacks the sleaziness of Rock of Love.

Come on, Bret, just one more time.

Rio Re-Release!

A few weeks ago, Duran Duran reissued their classic Rio album as a double CD. The first CD features the original UK release, and the second features demos, remixes and night versions of some tracks from the album. Of course, I had to buy it. I was surprised to realize that the CD I'd been listening to since I got a CD player was the UK version. After comparing the two, I actually like it better. It's got a bit more meat to it, more bass, more funk. The US version seems too glossy to me now. The demos were interesting to hear. They didn't vary too much from the album versions, with the exception of "My Own Way" which had a different chorus and few lines of the second verse. I've owned the night versions for a while now, so they were no surprise, but still as danceable as ever.

At the same time, they released a live CD and DVD of their 1982 concert at Hammersmith Odeon in London. This concert brings me back to being 13, in my parent's living room, waiting up till the ungodly hour of 11pm to tape this off MTV. This show cemented my love for the band. I watched that tape over and over again, and was glad to have it because I don't think MTV aired it more than a few times. A lot of fans I met in later years had never seen it, and I actually still have that old VHS tape. I also love it because the band performed a killer cover version of Cockney Rebel's "Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile)." Back in the day I held a tape recorder up to the TV so I could listen to it as much as I wanted. I remember being so excited when I heard it used on the soundtrack to the movie Threesome. Finally, I could buy a good quality version! The band released it as part of their Singles box set a few years ago as well. Memorably, I also saw the original five members play the song live in 2005, which was a complete surprise and thrill at the same time.

Unfortunately, the mix on the live CD isn't great. It seems a little muffled and muddy to me. Admittedly, I'm not really the biggest fan of live albums, but I wish the sound was crisper.

It annoyed me that I couldn't find either of these items in a store like Best Buy or Target but had to order them from Amazon. But before I start the lament of the demise of the record store, let me just say that I'm glad to have them at all.

Rio is a great pop record, and the Hammersmith Odeon gig shows a band in their prime. Great stuff for a longtime devoted fan like me.

Music As Torture

Last week, I read an article in our local newspaper that really disturbed me. It seems that music played at excruciating levels has been used as a form of torture against prisoners in the military prison at Guantanamo Bay. A group of artists have filed a Freedom of Information request to find out exactly which songs have been used in this manner.

Apparently this has been going on for quite some time, and the fight against it has been waging for at least a year. This tactic is officially banned by the UN Convention Against Torture, and by several human rights organizations. Some of the songs used include Rage Against the Machine's "Killing In The Name," Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and the Barney TV show theme song.

This is wrong. Music should not be an instrument of torture. The artists put their hearts and souls into their creations, their art. It is meant to stir emotions, not be used to drive people mad. A form of popular culture should not be used as an interrogation technique.

I wholeheartedly support the musicians in this matter and hope it is resolved in their favor.

Memories

The other day, and a few weeks ago, I was talking about Foreigner. I'm a really big fan of theirs, and while there are some people out there who don't appreciate the new line up, I'm not one of them. I've had ties to Kelly Hansen and Jeff Pilson going back years.

Kelly Hansen was the lead singer of a 80s hair metal band called Hurricane. They had one hit, "I'm On To You," which, unfortunately, had a silly "nah nah nah nah nah nah" refrain in the chorus. I always thought Kelly had an incredible, strong voice and was a really underrated singer. I went to see the band open for Stryper at Radio City Music Hall in November 1988. I went alone and was probably one of the only people to buy a Hurricane t-shirt instead of Stryper merchandise. And yes, for the record, I did have to dodge a Bible hurled into the audience from the stage during Stryper's set.

Jeff Pilson was the bass player in Dokken in the 80s, and I was a huge Dokken fan. I actually painted the band's logo on the back of my favorite denim jacket. I only got to see the original line up of Dokken once, when they opened for Aerosmith. But a few years later, I got to see Jeff Pilson up close when his solo band War and Peace played a local club. They played at a hole in the wall called February's, which was tinier than tiny. I was up front, and, consequently, got spit on many times when Jeff sang (a warning to those who see him today). The best part of the show came at the end when he pulled me and a few other girls on stage with him to sing the chorus of the Dokken song "It's Not Love." That was my not quite 15 minutes of fame.

I'm excited to see them both doing well with Foreigner. The band has a new CD out that I'll be going to, where else but Walmart, to pick up.

Only At Walmart

Yesterday, while I was doing a bit of reading about the Genesis DVD I wrote about, I noticed that the DVD was available exclusively at Walmart. Last Friday night, on the Palladio channel I mentioned yesterday, I watched a new concert DVD from Foreigner. The DVD, and new CD, are also only available at Walmart. I started to think about all the new releases I'd heard about over the past few months that could only be gotten at Walmart - the Eagles, Journey, AC/DC.

What's the deal?

According to a June 2008 New York Times article, Walmart is now the biggest music retailer in the country. It's natural that musicians and their management companies want to stay on their good side. But, in the case of Journey and the Eagles, the musicians are releasing their music directly through the retailer, cutting out a record company entirely.

It's no news that the music industry as a whole is in decline. But is teaming up with a retailer as your only means of release a good idea?

Both bands had great first week sales, and the marketing efforts were all encompassing all over the store, not just in the music department, and in their print, radio and television ads. The bands also retain more money per CD sold than they would if they released through a record company.

But what if you don't live near a Walmart? I know the store is prevalent in other areas in the country, but here on Long Island, Walmart is a relatively new comer. I'm sure there are other areas in the country where the store's presence hasn't reached.

AC/DC's announcement of their pairing with Walmart had fans on message boards complaining about the decline of small record stores and the rise of big box stores. And yes, the words "sell" and "out" appeared often as well.

So, is Walmart the future of music? Damned if I know. Anyone have any better ideas?

Must See TV

One of the biggest problems with being married to a musician is that anytime my husband sees anyone playing live music, he stops to listen. It doesn't matter where we are or what we're doing, we're stopping in our tracks. If he hears a steel drum in the subway, a pan flute at a craft fair, or the pianist at Nordstroms, I'm prepared to wait at least through the length of one song until we can go about our day.

This also applies to any live performances he happens to come across when he's channel surfing at home in front of the TV. One night we watched Guy Lombardo perform "Tiny Bubbles," I kid you not.

But this has also led us to some really good things. He's recently found an HD channel called Palladio that shows amazing music programming that you won't find on any of the mainstream music television channels.

Case in point. Last night we watched Genesis: When in Rome, a concert taped in Rome in 2007. I grew up listening to Genesis and watching this I remembered how much I enjoyed their music. In particular, I loved the "In The Cage" medley of some older stuff I hadn't heard before. I'd forgotten Genesis was a really progressive band before they went really commercial, and it was amazing to see them rip it up. I wouldn't have seen any of this, or heard any of this, if it wasn't for this channel.

Palladio is now our own brand of must see TV.

I Love Laminates!

There is nothing like a backstage pass.

From the first concert I ever went to, I coveted a backstage pass. I used to watch the people wandering around with laminates around their necks and desperately wished it was me. I thought it would be the height of cool to have one.

As I got older, I began to see bands play in clubs and bars. I was able to go backstage at a lot of these places, but it didn't seem like it was really "backstage." Most of those places only required a sticker for entry, if anything, or you had to pass through on your way to the bathroom. I wanted to be backstage in an arena. Wearing that coveted laminate.

It finally happened for me in May, 2001. All access at a Bon Jovi show. The photo of me holding out the laminate with my big cheesy grin says it all.

It felt, and still feels to this day, as good as I always thought it would. And walking around backstage at Madison Square Garden was an incredible experience. Definitely the height of cool.

Just A Small Town Boy...

I admit to having a soft spot for Bret Michaels and Poison. Why? Two words.

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Bret and drummer Rikki Rocket hail from this small town outside of Harrisburg. I had family there and spent a lot of time running around the town as a little kid. It's a small community that, years ago, was dominated by a large dairy farm and nursery called Ashcombs, and a small amusement park and racetrack called William's Grove. Every summer when I would visit my family we would go to William's Grove and ride the rides all day, and at night watch the fireworks set off at the park from my aunt's front yard. Later at night you could always here the roar of the engines from the racetrack. My aunt lived very close to the dairy farm and nursery, so we could walk to get homemade ice cream in the nursery's store. The air had that cow manure smell, and we didn't worry about getting dirty running in the fields. It was a good place to be a kid.

I gravitated to Poison in the mid 80s because their music was pure fun, and they looked good. Yes, I'm a sucker for the glam rock look. And when I found out the band originated in Mechanicsburg, I was thrilled. It was an easy place to miss on the map, yet here was a major rock band calling it home! And I had a tie to it! Surely, if I ever met the band, I was in.

My aunt used to tell me about seeing Rikki around the store where she worked, shopping with his mom. She always knew it was him because, as she said, he was the only kid in Mechanicsburg with purple hair. She also knew a girl who used to date him, and this girl loaded my aunt up with tons of old flyers for me to have. They featured the band's original name, Spectres, and the pictures of teenage Bret and Rikki were cute. I saved them for posterity, in the hopes of being able to have them sign one when I finally met them.

Well, I'm still waiting. Not that I haven't tried. Poison opened for David Lee Roth when he played our local arena, Nassau Coliseum, in 1987, and my friends and I went to the hotel near the arena to try and find them. Now, I realize that because we're so close to Manhattan, most bands commute in to the shows, but then I really thought they'd be there. Instead, we got propositioned by one of Roth's roadies. Um, no thank you.

In the summer of 1999, I got the closest I'd ever been, at the PNC Bank Arts Center. I was there with my friends to see Great White, Ratt and Poison. Thanks to my best friend working in the industry, we had backstage passes. I got an autograph from CC Deville, but no Rikki or Bret. I saw Rikki's family in the catering area, but I was too shy to go up and start a conversation. The closest I got to Bret was when I literally almost bumped into him as he was heading for the stage with security while I was hurrying out front to see the start of the show. Afterwards, he was surrounded.

Now, with the success of Rock of Love, Bret Michaels is more famous than he's ever been. I watched every episode of all three seasons, fascinated and horrified at the same time. Where do they find these women? I've watched his True Hollywood Story and Behind the Music episodes, and can practically recite verbatim the story about writing "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" in a laundromat. I think Riki Rachtman had the best line on Behind the Music - Bret walks the fine line between slutty dirtbag and really nice guy. And even though I'm a bit perturbed that he hasn't accepted my Facebook friend request yet, I'll still keep coming back to him and Poison.

Small town ties are hard to break.

Coincidences?

Yesterday I wrote about the movie Anvil! The Story of Anvil. It was a really good movie, but I couldn't help but notice some references to another one of my favorite rock and roll movies, This Is Spinal Tap, spread throughout. Now, I'm certainly not comparing the documentary to the mockumentary. I'm just sayin', is all.

1. The drummer in Anvil is named Robb Reiner. The director of This Is Spinal Tap is Rob Reiner. Weird.
2. While on tour in Europe, one of the members yells out "Hello, Cleveland!" on the way to the stage. The members of Spinal Tap yell this out as they try to find the stage and get lost backstage, one of my favorite scenes. Sadly, Anvil and Spinal Tap play shows in front of about the same amount of people.
3. During the recording of their new CD, there's a shot of one of Anvil's amps set at 11. Nigel's go to 11, too.
4. Anvil record their new CD in England, and on a day off visit historic Stonehenge. Historic Stonehenge visits Spinal Tap in their film, albeit in miniature.

Just had to put that out there.

Never Was

I think how you view life says a lot about you as a person. Are you a glass half empty or a glass half full kind of person? I like to think of myself as a glass half full person myself. I prefer to think things are going to work out, good things happen to good people and life in general is good. I prefer to give people the benefit of the doubt and try and maintain a positive attitude.

That's how I viewed the movie Anvil! The Story of Anvil.

Back in 1985, Anvil were poised for success. But a combination of shoddy production values, nonexistant management and no label support kept them from achieving the level of success they thought they were destined to have. They never made it anywhere close to the type of fame the big four in thrash metal (their genre) did - Metallica, Anthrax, Megadeth and Pantera. More than twenty years later, and into their 50s, singer Lips and drummer Robb Reiner were still trying to make it. The movie follows their journey as they tour Europe, record a new CD and try to get signed to a major label.

I watched the movie and kept hoping for the band to get a break. It seemed as if they took one step forward and two steps back the whole way through. They booked a European tour, great. But they had a tough time making it to gigs, getting paid by club owners and playing to mostly empty houses. One heartbreaking scene showed the band playing an arena with a 10,000 person capacity, with the actual head count being 174. They got in touch with a reputable producer who liked the new material, great. But they went into debt to pay for the recording and got turned down by every major label they approached. Finally, they played a festival in Japan to a capacity crowd who really appreciated the music and made them feel like it was worth it.

As that glass half full person, I was inspired by Steve "Lips" Kudlow. Throughout all the years, all the heartache that he has surely endured, he never lost hope. He never wavered in his belief in himself, his music and his band. In his dream. To me, that's admirable.

Obviously there are those out there who no doubt think, enough already. Just give it up. It hasn't happened by now, it's not going to happen. I can't be that kind of cynic. I still believe in dreams.

It's fitting that Anvil are now achieving success for a film about them not achieving success. The film has won many documentary film awards and the band is still recording and touring. As a glass half full person, I wish them all the luck in the world.

A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock and Roll

I am an equal opportunity music lover. I really don't care what kind of genre a particular song is, if it speaks to me, I like it. So, I was really attracted to the TV program Crossroads, on CMT. Crossroads pairs a country artist and a rock artist, and they team up and sing each other's songs. I think it's a great concept, and I particularly love the slogan of the show - great music knows no boundaries. I couldn't agree more.

I've seen a few episodes of the show, but I kept missing one in particular, and I was finally able to catch it the other day. It featured a longtime favorite of mine, Def Leppard, who were paired with up and comer Taylor Swift.

In my eyes, Def Leppard can do no wrong, but I didn't know much about Taylor Swift's music. But after watching this show, I went running to my iTunes to download her stuff. There's nothing I appreciate more than a good, hooky pop song, and to quote Joe Elliott, take out the banjo and fiddle and that's what you've got. The songs were really infectious, and Ms. Swift has a new admirer on her hands.

Next on my must-watch list for this program is Heart and Wynonna. These ladies can all sing their asses off, and I can't wait to hear how they handle each other's material.

What Happens in Vegas...

Will be rockin'!

Tonight, Slash will host a concert to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mirage Resort and Casino. Billed as Slash & Friends, the lineup includes guests such as Joe Perry, Rick Nielsen and Robin Zander, Matt Sorum and members of Rob Zombie's band.

I have no doubt they will tear it up.

Feeling a bit Urgent...

Actually, I'm feeling a bit bummed, but Foreigner doesn't have a song with that title. I'll be missing their show tonight, and I'm sad about it.

I just have to say it. Foreigner is a great rock and roll band. I think the "corporate rock" label for them and other bands like Journey and Styx is just plain stupid. They play good, solid, hook filled rock and roll, and what's wrong with that? Being commercial isn't the equivalent of being bad.

Some may say Foreigner isn't the same since Lou Gramm left. After all, he was "the voice." I can see both sides of this. Lou Gramm had an amazing voice, but his age, his illness, and the fact that he'd performed for so many years was working against him. I saw him with the band a few years ago, and I found it hard to watch and listen to a singer who can't hit the notes he was famous for. It's heartbreaking. But I admit to being biased about the new singer Kelly Hansen. I was a fan of his band Hurricane in the 80s, and I always thought he was an underrated singer back then. Listening to him perform songs I love pumps me up and I think he really does them justice. And Mick Jones is simply Mick Jones, still awesome after all this time.

So this evening as I go about my regular life, I'll be humming Foreigner songs to myself and wishing I was rocking out. Maybe next tour...

What Possessed Him?

Bas, Bas, Bas....

A few weeks ago I was singing your praises. Now, I have to say, you've just gone and ruined it for me.

Why oh why would Sebastian Bach ever consent to be on Celebrity Fit Club?!?!?

Why has he become VH1's bitch? Between I Married Sebastian Bach, SuperGroup, a lame-ass countdown show, and now this? And no, I haven't forgotten the show on CMT and The Gilmore Girls. This man used to be fierce. What the hell is going on with him?

Not only is he going to be on this stupid show, his fellow cast mates will include freakin' Bobby Brown and gag me Kevin Federline!

Please, Bas, I beg you - stick to what you do best, and that's music.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond

One of the things I love about music is one of the same things I love about life - there's always something new to learn.

Last night I was flipping through the television channels and came across a program on VH1 Classic about Syd Barrett. I'd heard the name before, but since I didn't know anything about the man, I decided to give it a go.

Syd Barrett was one of the founding members of Pink Floyd. As I've gotten older, I've developed an appreciation for Pink Floyd's music, but I wouldn't consider myself a fan. All I know of Pink Floyd is Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters, Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall. Years ago I watched the movie The Wall, but I didn't really get it. That may be because I watched the movie absolutely stone cold sober. In any case, Pink Floyd wasn't too high on my list of faves.

But I was fascinated with Syd Barrett's story. He recorded on the first two Pink Floyd albums and was the band's principle songwriter in the early days. His behavior both on and off the stage became increasingly erratic and he was dismissed from the band in 1968. He released two solo albums, but then retreated into self imposed seclusion for almost 30 years, passing away from either pancreatic cancer or complications from diabetes in 2006, depending on what report you believe.

Syd Barrett was known to have been a heavy LSD user. His family and former band mates also think there were other factors at work in Syd's psyche. There was speculation that he was schizophrenic, or bipolar. It was thought that he had a nervous breakdown. People also wondered if the flashing lights used in Pink Floyd's stage shows, combined with the drugs, could have triggered epileptic-like seizures. It's just amazing to me how many times we keep hearing the same story, only with different character names. Gifted young musician strives for success, achieves it, starts to use drugs, can't handle success they worked so hard for, self implodes.

The list of rock and roll cautionary tales gets longer every day.

That (Sorta) Metal Show

My name is Jen and I am a heavy metal fan.

So, as an admitted, out in public metal fan, I was really excited last year to hear that VH1 Classic was going to air a half hour show about hard rock and heavy metal. I'd been a devotee to MTV's Headbanger's Ball back in the day, and was hoping for an engaging interview and discussion type show.

Instead, what I got was a show that has more misses than hits. Debuting on November 15, 2008, the show is hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson. That's the first problem I've got with the show. Eddie Trunk is a local New York DJ who also has a satellite radio show dedicated to heavy metal. The man is a walking encyclopedia of music knowledge, which is good. The bad part is that he's dull as dishwater. He injects a lot of personal stuff into his stories, which can be interesting. But he talks a lot. Sometimes he talks more than the guests. And who are the other two guys? Comedians who are metal fans? They don't bring a lot to the table. I seriously don't understand VH1's compulsion to add comedians to all their shows, because instead of their comments being funny, they're just annoying.

Each show has an interview segment with an artist, with the exception of the episode where former NY Mets catcher Mike Piazza was the guest. I know he's a metal fan, but come on, there was NO ONE else available in all of New York City to be the guest that day? In any case, in my opinion this part of the show should be the main focus, but inevitably it's cut too short just as the interviews with the artists start to get interesting. The show obviously needs time for it's other two segments, Stump the Trunk and Throwdown.

Stump the Trunk is a trivia contest where an audience member gets to ask a question of walking encyclopedia Eddie Trunk, and if he fails to answer it, they win a prize. Throwdown asks the host to pick one of two artists over the other and answer why in a timed response. There are also other bits, such as Where Are They Now and Pick of the Week.

All in all, it's too much to stuff into a half hour. If I know Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater is going to be on the show, I want the whole show about him, not 7 minutes out of 30. I could care less about the other filler.

The second season of the show ended this summer. If the show comes back for another season, I hope it's retooled. 'Cause in my opinion, That Metal Show is so not metal.

Daddy's Little Girl

Anyone who's read my earlier posts can tell I'm not really a fan of what I call "competition TV," those programs that pit contestants against one another to win money or a recording contract or a person's heart. With a few exceptions, it's not really something that interests me. However, I found myself tuning in to "Dancing With The Stars" this week.

Why?

I wanted to see Kelly Osbourne.

Again, why?

For two reasons. First, I wanted to see if she could pull it off. Second, I wanted to see whether Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Bleeping Darkness, would actually show up and sit in the audience with the family members of the other contestants.

Kelly Osbourne is the youngest daughter or Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. As part of the phenomenal success of The Osbournes reality show on MTV, she became a target of the paparazzi and has struggled with the demons that haunt her family, drugs and alcohol. She has a sharp tongue and a quick temper, and like her parents, no internal censor. I thought it would be interesting to see if she if she could tamp all that down to be a contender in the competition.

Well, like everyone who watched the show, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Her first dance was very elegant, ladylike and polished, very un-Osbourne like. She did an amazing job and handled herself brilliantly. She and her partner got high marks from the judges and have moved on to the next round of the competition.

And as for Ozzy, yes, he was in the audience, with Sharon and Kelly's fiance. Not only was he there, but he cried. Yes, The Prince of Bleeping Darkness actually cried watching his daughter glide elegantly across the floor. I expected that from Sharon, I've read her autobiography Extreme and I know that beneath her business rep as a cast iron bitch she's actually a marshmallow. But Ozzy? After her dance was completed Kelly ran across the floor to hug him and Sharon, and I don't think they could have been more proud.

I've only seen Ozzy Osbourne in concert once, in December of 2001 as they were in the middle of filming the first season of The Osbournes. More than anything, I went because I wanted to see Zakk Wylde. Unfortunately, I have to say, it was one of the most boring concerts I've ever been too, and I was disappointed. After that, I've much preferred Ozzy in Dad mode than Rocker mode, and Dad mode was out in full force on Dancing With The Stars.

Go, Kelly! I'm rooting for you!

It's An Honor Just To Be Nominated

Do you think Gene Simmons will say that if KISS doesn't make it this year?

The list of 2010 potential Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees was announced today. The list includes KISS, Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Genesis, Donna Summer, ABBA, Darlene Love, Laura Nyro, the Stooges, the Chantels, the Hollies and Jimmy Cliff.

The nominees are chosen by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, and artists are eligible for induction 25 years after the release of their debut. Inductees include not just artists, but producers, songwriters, DJs and others who have made musical history.

So who will make the cut this year?

The Singer or the Song?

After writing yesterday's post, I started to think about the singer and/or the song. Which is more important? Can a well written song bring a not so great singer to another level? Can an amazing singer lift up a poorly written song? Is it a case of chicken and egg?

In any case, pondering those questions reminded me of a great musical experience I had a few years back. My husband works for a music company that works with the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, so we were invited to attend a benefit they were having featuring singers and songwriters of famous 80s hits. Each singer/songwriter was going to discuss how they wrote their most famous song of the decade and then sing it. After a round robin, they would discuss a famous 80s song they wish they'd written, and then sing that. The panel consisted of Cy Curnin from The Fixx, Patty Smyth from Scandal, Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian from The Hooters, Desmond Child, and Cyndi Lauper. The event was hosted by Rob Thomas.

I wish I could remember all the details of that night. What I remember most is how passionately they spoke about songwriting, about the feeling they got when they made the connection and knew the song was good. They were proud of their work, but not in a boastful way. It resonated with them that people still remembered and enjoyed their work, and seeing them perform songs like "One Thing Leads to Another," "The Warrior," "All You Zombies" and "She-Bop" in an acoustic setting was fantastic.

The best part of the night was listening to them talk about the songs they wish they'd written. They had nothing but praise for their fellow songwriters, and a kind of reverence and awe. Cy Curnin chose "Rock the Casbah" by the Clash. Patty Smyth chose "The Boys of Summer" by Don Henley and talked about how she was privileged to work with him on a duet. Desmond Child picked U2's "With or Without You." Cyndi Lauper brought the house down with a version of "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye. It was definitely a thrill to see and hear.

So, what's more important, the singer or the song? Damned if I know. I'm just glad to be in the audience.

John Mayer: Emo Appeal

Let's talk John Mayer today, singer, songwriter, guitar player, man about town.

I kind of don't get the appeal.

Let's start with the reason we're here in the first place, the music. To be honest, his voice kind of grates on my nerves. Every singer has a unique vocal style, I understand that, but Mayer's warble is a little too wobbly. I've really tried, but the only song of his that I really like is "Waiting for the World to Change." It grabbed my attention from the first minute I heard it, but I think that's more to do with the lyrics than anything.

So I have to give the man props on his songwriting abilities. "Daughters" is a beautiful piece, but I just can't stand to hear him sing it. Is that wrong?

Much has been made of his guitar playing. Why? He's not the first, nor will he be the last, singer to strum a six string, so what's the big deal? I caught a recorded live performance on TV recently, and I have to say, he also makes some of the worst guitar-player-faces I've ever seen.

And what's up with the man's ability to attach himself to beautiful, successful women? Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston.... That whole soulful, emo musician thing is really working to his benefit.

Mayer has stated that he's "closing up shop on acoustic sensibility." He's got a new album coming in November. I hope he brings the rock and changes my mind.

What does it take to be a Diva?

Last night was the VH1 Divas Live show. After a few years' absence, this year featured Adele, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Leona Lewis, Miley Cyrus, India Arie and host Paula Abdul.

Now, while there is no doubt that these ladies are all extremely talented, I wasn't sure "Diva" was the right word used to describe them. So I turned to my trusty dictionary, and got this definition:

Diva - a distinguished female singer; prima donna; a very successful singer of non-operatic music. It is a word derived from the Latin word divus, meaning god.

Yes, they are distinguished, and yes, they are successful, but Diva-like? I'd have to say no. These ladies have miles to go before that title should be bestowed on them. But I have no doubt they'll get there.

Obits are Piling Up

Is is just me, or are a lot of famous people dying lately? It seems you can't watch the news without seeing another famous face with dates underneath it.

First this week, we lost Patrick Swayze after a horrible fight with pancreatic cancer. Now today, Mary Travers of folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary has had her name added to the ever growing list. I'm not puffing the magic dragon, and I know I'm getting older, but this is getting extreme.

Of course I went digging around to see if I could get an approximate tally of celebrity deaths, and I happened to find a list of Rock Star Deaths in 2009. It was staggering. The person who's compiling it not only included really famous people, but anyone who had anything to do with music in their lifetime, be it for film, TV or what have you. Part of me thinks it's a commendable thing to do, but another part of me thinks, dude, that's a bit creepy. Check it out for yourself at maximumink.com.

Thinking about all this started me on another tangent. What were the most shocking, horrible, unbelievable rock star deaths of all time? Obviously, there's Elvis and John Lennon, but aside from them, here's my top five.

1. Sid Vicious - yes, he died of an overdose as so many other rock stars have. But he died of that overdose while out on bail for the murder of his girlfriend Nancy Spungen.

2. Kurt Cobain - suicide was the official cause but the rumors about Courtney Love having done him in still circulate.

3. Randy Rhoads - a gifted guitar player who hated to fly dies in a small plane crash.

4. Brian Jones - see my earlier post on this one. I loves me a good murder mystery.

5. Cliff Burton - this probably wouldn't make most people's lists, but being the Metallica fan that I am, I had to include it. Hearing James Hetfield describe how he went looking for him out in the dark on the road after the bus accident is heartbreaking.

Call me morbid, but you can't deny it's fascinating.

Wanted: A Lead Singer

Is it really that hard to find a lead singer for a band? Will a band go to any length to find just the right person?

Apparently so.

First, there was reality TV and the program Rock Star. At first, I was opposed to the idea of the show. The first season of Rock Star took place to find a new singer for INXS. As a big fan of the band, it bothered me that they would, I don't know, stoop to such a commercial level to find a replacement for Michael Hutchence. In my opinion, Michael Hutchence was a great frontman and shouldn't be replaced. But of course, money talks and music is a business, and the band wanted to carry on. So after weeks of work, eliminations and drama, J.D. Fortune was chosen as the new singer for INXS. But, apparently, that was only temporary. I've read that they are making a greatest hits album with different singers on each track.

Remember a while back, I mentioned that I never watched an episode of American Idol? Well, that being said, I cop to being addicted to Rock Star: Supernova back in 2006. This struck me as different from the original series because it was a new band coming together to search for a lead singer, not trying to replace someone. And hey, how could I not have watched a show featuring Dave Navarro as host, and the band looking for a singer consisting of Tommy Lee, Jason Newsted and Gilby Clarke? Again, after weeks of eliminations, the guys chose Lukas Rossi (definitely not the right person but hey, what do I know?). They released one album, toured with former contestants from the show, and then phhttt! Nothing else. Lukas Rossi has done some small club dates but not much else.

Judas Priest had the nerve to replace one of the greatest metal vocalists of all times, Rob Halford, with Ripper Owens. They found him from a Judas Priest cover band. Okay, so they got a movie out of it, but again, a mistake. Rob returned to the fold and they toured this past summer performing the entire British Steel.

Fuel tried to hire Chris Daughtry after seeing him perform one of their songs on American Idol. He was smart and said no, and he's become popular with his own band. Styx replaced Dennis DeYoung with Gowan. Queen toured with Paul Rodgers singing for them. I would like to smack the person who thought up that pairing, because to even try and replace Freddie Mercury is a sacrilege. Journey found their new lead singer from YouTube. YouTube! Will the madness ever end?

The only band I can find that had equal if not better success with a new lead singer is Van Halen. Now, we'll have the Dave vs. Sammy debate another day, but if anything, this list should be a warning to all bands - take care of your singers!

Rock Band vs. Guitar Hero - it's all Rock n' Roll to me!

With all the hoopla surrounding the release of the Beatles Rock Band game, I decided to do a little research on the games to see what they were all about and try and figure out which one was better. I'm a mom, so naturally, I did what all moms would do in this situation.

I asked my kid.

My son is seven and has played both games. He got very serious when talking to me - video games are very important in his world. In his opinion, Rock Band is better because you can play all the instruments, whereas in Guitar Hero you're limited to guitar and drums.

Honestly, I don't know. I'd be hard pressed to choose. Guitar Hero has an Aerosmith and Metallica version, two bands I personally love. But now Rock Band has the Beatles. Tough choice.

I checked out the lists of songs available to play along to and was surprised by the variety and sheer number of songs. My son has asked me to download songs for him that he's heard while playing the game. Personally, I think anything that exposes kids to all different kinds of music is a good thing.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Okay, Kanye. Who died and made you God? Who are you to take away Taylor Swift's moment at the MTV Video Music Awards? According to everything I know about you, you were raised by a single mom to have respect for women. Where was the respect for Taylor Swift last night? Seriously, I hope you're ashamed of yourself. It was a very tasteless thing to do.

Beyonce, however, was all class and all heart when she invited Taylor Swift onstage to have her moment.

And to Taylor Swift, congratulations.

Overcome

As is my habit, I look to music to express myself. Today, this says it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxNNHW1TJBA

Never forget.

A Dream Come True

Today's my last post in my Duran Duran trilogy.

As I was saying before, after leaving the Vegas show E and I thought life couldn't get much better, but we were wrong. Duran Duran played more shows, one in New York City, and released a brand new CD, Astronaut. They launched a world tour to support the album, so naturally it was a must that we attend at least one show.

The tour brought them through Mohegan Sun Hotel and Casino in Connecticut on a Sunday night, so E, Eye and my cousin decided to get tickets to that show and get a hotel room and spend the night. Eye was still working with a big name in the music industry then so she said she would make a few calls and see if she could get us some sort of after show passes. There were no guarantees, but the butterflies in my stomach grew into bats by the time the show day arrived.

Ripping open the envelope with our names on it and finding four after show meet and greet passes in it was one of the best feelings in the world.

The show was awesome as usual, but I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could finally meet the band I'd been wanting to meet for the last 23 years. We waited for what seemed like forever until it was our turn to enter the backstage room to meet the band.

Did I mention I was four months pregnant at the time?

Finally, the moment. John Taylor walked into the room first, still a bit sweaty from being on stage. He looked right at me, said hi, and honestly, I don't remember much after that! Thank God I was with three other people and we had cameras or I would have sworn it was all a dream.

I moved toward Simon first. He was sitting on a table and I sat down next to him so he could sign my program. He complained he was tired, and I'm told I rubbed his back. The pictures show me next to him while he's signing.

Andy was next. He'd just lost his father and had rejoined the tour just a few days earlier, but despite that, he couldn't have been more gracious. E squeezed his cheeks and to this day she says she doesn't know what possessed her to do it.

Then, John. The moment I'd waited for forever. He asked my name and signed the program to me. I wish I could say I said something funny or meaningful or really, just anything, but I didn't. I don't even have a picture with him, and I regret that. But it was John. Sigh, sigh, sigh...

Roger was eye level with me when I got to him, and just as quiet as I knew he would be.

Nick was the last member I met. I've always felt a sort of kinship with him because we share the same birthday and an interest in graphic design, photography and making lists of all kinds. His voice is soothing and he was as nice as I'd always imagined him to be. He turned out to be the only band member I was able to get a proper photo with, and I look like a deer caught in headlights. But I'm happy.

After it was all over, I have to admit, I cried. Pregnancy aside, I was very emotional. It's very overwhelming and thrilling when one of your dreams comes true.

The day ranks up there as one of the best of my life.

Vegas, baby!

So where was I? Oh yes, Duran Duran...

I've faithfully followed the band all these years, through their highs and lows, and multiple side projects. I've seen them live every time they've toured the States, in huge halls and small venues and everywhere in between. I watched in sadness as first Roger, then Andy, and finally John left the band. Even though the band wasn't the same, I still kept returning to them.

Then, in 2002, we got the incredible news. The original five members were reforming the band and were going to play a select few live shows. Living so close to New York City, I've become spoiled about the amount of concerts I'm able to attend and assumed they would be playing in Manhattan. Well, not so for these reunion shows. They picked venues in Japan, LA and Las Vegas, and they sold out in record time. My best friend E and I thought we were out of luck.

I am lucky enough to be blessed with the world's greatest girlfriends. My other best friend, I'll call her Eye, happened to work in the music industry at the time. She suggested to me, why don't you go out to the Vegas show? I know someone, I'll be able to get you tickets. E and I put our heads together, consulted with our families, and made the decision. We were off to Vegas.

The show was scheduled for a Saturday night at the Hard Rock Hotel in the middle of July. We took an early flight out to Las Vegas and landed about noon local time. We dumped our luggage at our (much cheaper) hotel located conveniently next door and walked over to scope out the scene, pick up our tickets and get a place on the entrance line for a general admission show. When we arrived, the line was already snaking around the parking lot, and we later learned that the first people on the line had been there since 5 am. We sat down, on the sidewalk, in the July Vegas heat, to wait it out.

One of the things I've always loved about going to shows is talking to other people who are just as crazy about the band you're there to see as you are. We discovered we weren't the only people who'd traveled across the country to see the show. Some people had been the the LA shows earlier in the week and followed the band to Vegas. It was gratifying to learn we weren't crazy!

News of band member sightings inside the hotel flew up and down the line while we waited. Later in the afternoon the entire band made an appearance at the blackjack tables. Half the line ran in to see them and take photos while friends waited and held spots, and then the trade was made so the ones who'd waited could go inside. I admit to having my own blurry photos of John Taylor trying his hand at 21.

Finally, after what seemed like an interminable wait and individual trips to our own hotel to freshen up, we were allowed into the venue. Having been a Duran fan for so long and having seen so many shows together, we knew just what to do - grab hands, go to the left and get as far forward as humanly possible.

Another thing old time fans know about Duran - they are never on time. A show scheduled for 9 pm will start closer to 9:30.

Finally, the lights were lowered, and the shrieks were ear piercing. It was just like old times! The entire band came to the front of the stage, back lit, and just stood in front of the crowd, taking it all in. I'd been lucky enough to see the original five live back in 1984, but for some fans, like E, this was the first time they'd ever seen all of them on stage together. It was overwhelming. They broke off one by one and then ripped into "Friends of Mine" from their first album. To start off with a lesser known song seemed like a gift to the die-hard, old time fans, and we rocked out. The floor underneath us all vibrated throughout the night because we were dancing like crazy.

Duran Duran roared through all their classic songs and debuted some new material they were working on for an upcoming album, and the night flew by. After the show, E and I were exhausted and exhilarated and spent hours reliving the show moment by moment. It seemed unreal that we had been there at all.

We flew home the next morning, sure it couldn't get much better than that. We were wrong...

Please Please Tell Me Now

Duran Duran changed my life.

Okay, I know some of you are probably going, oh, don't be so melodramatic. But it's true.

I was 12 years old when I discovered Duran Duran. I saw the videos for "Rio" and "Hungry Like The Wolf" on this great channel I just happened across one day called MTV, and that's it, I was hooked. I bought the Rio album and was glued to the stereo and MTV from then on.

Back in those pre-Internet days, I got information on the bands I liked from radio, magazines, and eventually MTV. Duran hadn't yet reached superstar status in the States when I first became a fan, so information and photos trickled in from these sources, and they were precious to me. Finding some printed media from England was a coup. As they started to gain popularity here, interviews with the band members were popping up everywhere, and photos were in abundance. I studied these as if they held the answers to every question ever asked. But by reading these interviews and magazine articles and perusing these photos, I started to realize that there was a different, larger world out there that up until that point was unknown to a kid from suburban Long Island.

My musical world expanded. If John Taylor or Simon Le Bon commented in an interview about Roxy Music, well, I wanted to know more about them and hear their music. I bought import records from English bands that had no following in the States, but I gave them a try. Sure, I got some duds, but every purchase led me to another band, and another, that maybe I wouldn't have gotten to like otherwise. Through Roxy Music, I found Japan, Scritti Politti, the Alarm, Nik Kershaw. I fell hard for Ziggy Stardust era David Bowie and learned about the genius of Mick Ronson. I started to notice funky bass lines and poetic lyrics. My Top 40 looked nothing like the popular charts back then, and still doesn't, and I owe that to Duran.

And let's talk about fashion. Duran Duran got a rep for being a pin up band, and they wore gorgeous, stylish clothes and yes, makeup. So that became important to me. I was a John Taylor devotee (still am), so I had the requisite fedora like he wore in the "Hungry Like The Wolf" video, but there was more to it than that. I started experimenting with clothes, makeup and hair styles, following their example. I can pretty much guarantee I am the only person ever to grace the halls of Woodland Junior High in a ruffled blouse, maroon sash belt, black leather pants and heels in honor of the New Romantic look. I dyed my short hair platinum blonde a la Nick Rhodes. I had a shiny purple suit I wore during my sophomore year of school. It took a while, but I finally figured out my own style and never followed the pack. I still don't, in lots of areas of my life, and I owe that to Duran.

Most importantly, I met my best friend because of the band. In the early 80s "Duranies" tended to congregate toward one another to talk, trade photos, daydream. I've been lucky enough to sustain a friendship with an incredible person for over 20 years because a mutual interest in the band led us to each other, and I owe that to Duran.

That friend and I have had some incredible times together because of Duran Duran. More on that tomorrow....

More MJ...

Michael Jackson will be laid to rest tonight. But unfortunately, the hoopla surrounding his death will go on...and on...and on....

I Want You to Want Me

"Can you honestly tell me you forgot? Forgot the magnetism of Robin Zander, or the charisma of Rick Nielsen?"

Mike Damone, Fast Times at Ridgemont High

I started thinking about Cheap Trick yesterday for two reasons. First, I happened to be watching the end of the movie 10 Things I Hate About You, and at the very end of the movie the band Letters To Cleo sings "I Want You to Want Me." And second, the other day we heard the live version of the song from the classic Live At Budokan album, and my husband wondered aloud how come you never hear the original album version of the song anymore. So I decided I had to share this story.

A few weeks ago, I saw Cheap Trick live, opening for Poison and Def Leppard. It was the second time I've had the opportunity to see them, and they were outstanding. It pains me that Cheap Trick never achieved the fame or status of other great American rock and roll bands like Aerosmith, because they are truly a phenomenal band. Aside from "I Want You to Want Me" they have a catalog of great tunes behind them, and they are solid and tight. It seemed a shame that they were the opening act for this tour.

They rocked through their too short set, which also included some Beatles tunes. Afterwards, my best friend and I went to the ladies room, where I overheard the following: "you know, that band was really good, but I thought that was a Duran Duran song."

Yes. You read that right.

To say I was floored was an understatement. I couldn't wait to leave the bathroom to tell my friend what I'd heard. The look on her face must have matched mine.

Now, I am a huge Duran Duran fan. Huge. But on his best day, Simon Le Bon couldn't come close to Robin Zander! Comparing the two bands is like comparing apples to french fries as far as I'm concerned. They don't look or sound anywhere close to one another.

The girl who said it was younger than me, but come on! I was really upset that there are people out there who are so completely clueless about music. But maybe that's why Cheap Trick have never become as big as they should have - people are buying Duran records instead.

Accident or Murder - Brian Jones

I love a good mystery. Nothing intrigues me more than a conspiracy theory. I get all hyped up thinking about a second shooter on the grassy knoll, a cult behind the Summer of Sam killings, Diana and Dodi's engagement coverup, true or (most likely) not. So the news of the reopening of the investigation into Brian Jones's death 40 years ago got me going.

Brian Jones was one of the founding members of the Rolling Stones, and from what I gather, the force that really set the Stones in motion. He came up with the band's name and pushed them into their first gigs. He pushed them to rehearse and negotiated with the venues. He played multiple instruments, not just guitar, and sang back up vocals on many tracks. He was, for all intents and purposes, the band's leader.

His estrangement from the band in the late 60s came from a combination of creative difficulties, a stolen girlfriend, the shifting of the limelight onto Mick Jagger, money and drugs. About a month after announcing his departure from the Stones, Brian Jones was discovered dead at the bottom of his pool at his home in Sussex, England.

His death was ruled as "death by misadventure" (seriously), but Jones's girlfriend at the time, Anna Wohlin, claimed he was murdered by one of the builders who was working on their house at the time of his death. Here's where it starts to get interesting. A woman named Janet Lawson claimed she saw Jones and the builder, Frank Thorogood, fooling around in the pool. A while later, she saw Thorogood enter the house, visibly shaking. She found Jones in the bottom of the pool soon after. Hmmm...

Documents have recently come to light that police on the scene at the time concluded that Jones died after an argument with Thorogood, yet the man and several other key witnesses were never interviewed. Hmmm....

Frank Thorogood died in 1994. He supposedly confessed, on his deathbed, to killing Brian Jones, telling the Rolling Stones's driver, Tom Keylock, that he did Brian in. Keylock died last month. Janet Lawson also passed away, in 2008. So all the key players are now gone. Hmmm...

Two separate books were published in 1994 that named Thorogood as Jones's murderer, but there was no investigation then. Hmmm...

There was no comment from the Rolling Stones's publicist after the story came out yesterday. But I, for one, will be following it closely.

Not just a "groupie"

Normally I'm a "take each day as it comes" kind of person, but I have to admit to wanting to fast forward two months to Halloween weekend. That is the weekend that Chiller Theatre will take place in Parsippany, New Jersey. Chiller Theatre features all sorts of sci-fi and horror movie and TV show events, shows and guests, and normally I steer clear and let my husband and son attend on their own. But today I found out that Pamela Des Barres will be making an appearance. I am so there.

For those not familiar with Miss Pamela, she has been called the Queen of the Groupies. She wrote two memoirs about her exploits with some heavy duty rock gods, including Keith Moon, Mick Jagger and Jimmy Page. These books never leave my shelves, but not because of their kiss-and-tell aspects. After reading the first page of the first book, I felt like I'd found a kindred spirit. I could see myself in her.

In the opening chapter of her book, she described a feeling of something grabbing hold of her when she heard Elvis's music for the first time that I could totally relate to. She confessed to being a blithering Beatlemaniac, which I know as well as I know my own name I would have been, too. But more than anything, she wrote about her overwhelming love of music, and her words felt like I had written them myself. She took that love to another level by getting physically close to the source of the music, the musicians themselves. She didn't and still doesn't care that people used the term "groupie" in a derogatory way; she wears the label proudly. She knows who she is and what she is doing, and doesn't care what others think.

Along with several books about music, Pamela has written about music and entertainment for several magazines. Her writing style is one I aspire to - conversational and intimate. I always come away from reading one of her pieces with an urge to write better.

She is one of my personal heroes. I seriously can't wait for October!

Just a couple o' thoughts

Let's just grab the bull by the horns today and talk about the whole MJ homicide thing. Dr. Conrad Murray's story is definitely fishy, and toxicology tests don't lie. There are cell phone records, and a prescription paper trail. This isn't some podunk little event taking place in a small town with a Mayberry police force, this is freaking Michael Jackson's death in L.A. 'Fess up, Dr. Murray, about what really happened, because you are not going to get a moment's peace until you do.

And while we're on the Jackson subject, I really think the Jackson brothers deserve a beat down for going ahead with their reality series scheduled to air on A&E network. Apparently, a reality show was in the works from May showing the brothers preparing for a reunion tour. No word on whether any footage of Michael was filmed for the show, but come on. It's really sad when family members want to capitalize on the man's death. As for the tribute concert in Vienna (of all places) on September 26, I think I'll skip it.

Chris Brown was sentenced to 5 years probation and 180 days of physical labor in his home state of Virginia for the assault on Rihanna back in February. According to court documents, he had previously shoved her against a wall and broke windows in a car they were riding in on two separate occasions, showing he has a history of violence against her. During the incident he was sentenced for, he also threatened to kill her. I can't claim to be a fan of his, even before all this, but if I was, I would have to seriously reconsider it. Everyone loves a bad boy, but the image of a bad boy, not the actual real thing.

And finally, another music legend has passed away. Ellie Greenwich, the prolific songwriter of 60s hits such as "Be My Baby" and "Leader of the Pack," has died. Greenwich, with co-writer Jeff Barry and producer Phil Spector, created some incredible songs that stood up to the test of time. I dare you not to spend the rest of the day humming "Da Doo Run Run."

KISS - Still the hottest band in the world?

KISS announced plans for their 35th anniversary tour, KISS Alive 35, in conjunction with the upcoming release of their new CD Sonic Boom. They'll start the tour with two dates at Detroit's Cobo Arena where they recorded their classic album Alive in 1975. They'll perform the album in its entirety at both shows.

So let's discuss.

First, let me just say that I have loved KISS for a very long time. Take note of the photo of me at right with pictures of the band on my wall when I was 9. I listened to my Destroyer record until the grooves were worn out. I've seen them in concert sans makeup several times, and I still say the 1996 reunion show I saw with full makeup was one of the best concert I've ever seen. But I'm wondering if it's not time to hang up the platform boots.

Peter Criss and Ace Frehley are no longer in the band. Old time fans knew it wouldn't last. And as good as Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer are, they just aren't Peter and Ace. I can't look at them in the classic makeup. It's not the same.

The material, too, just hasn't been the same since Peter and Ace stopped recording with the band. While each album after Dynasty has some good, and even great, songs (as I write this "God Gave Rock and Roll To You" came up on my iTunes, proving my point), the original four members produced the best material. It remains the material the fans want to hear the most. I don't honestly think they're getting a lot of requests for "Let's Put the X in Sex."

We've also been overmerchandised. God bless him, Gene Simmons is a marketing genius, but how many more items in the world can have the KISS logo on them? According to an article in BrandWeek magazine, KISS has licensed its name to over 2,000 product categories, becoming nearly a 1 billion dollar brand. Yes, that's correct, 1 billion dollars. There's KISS condoms, cologne, and caskets. I draw the line at KISS toilet paper.

And finally, there's Gene Simmons' "reality" show on A&E network, Gene Simmons Family Jewels. How are fans supposed to take him seriously as the God of Thunder when each week we see him getting made a fool of by his partner and kids? Ozzy and Sharon still hold the titles on rock star family dysfunction. Personally, I think the show is just a ploy to help his son Nick's band get exposure, but that's a subject for another post.

So, still the hottest band in the world? I'm thinking more like lukewarm. But maybe the new CD and tour will prove me wrong. As an old time fan, I'm hoping they go out and kick ass.

I Want My MTV (Back)!

Ladies and gentlemen, rock n' roll.

Those were the words spoken as MTV aired for the first time back on August 1, 1981. So I have one simple question - where has the "music" in "music television" gone?

'Cause for the life of me, I can't seem to find it.

I was 12 when I found MTV during a run through of the channels on our cable box in the summer of 1982. I hit on it by accident, but I kept turning back to it to make sure it was still "there." In those early days MTV didn't have a lot of videos, so I sat through the same ones over and over, and a lot were by bands I didn't even like. To this day, just the mention of Talking Heads' Once in a Lifetime gives me the shivers. But the channel introduced me to music that would literally change my life and eventually became almost the only thing I would watch. My friends and I would discuss music, bands and videos for hours on end. A World Premiere Video of a favorite band became an event, something to mark on the calendar. Pleas were made with parents to stay up late to watch band members play guest VJs. I sat glued to the channel for every hour of Live Aid. And I could never figure out why the powers that be always had to show the Video Music Awards the first week of a new school year!

So, even though I was getting older, it was with dismay that I noticed MTV was decreasing the amount of music in their programming. At first, it was just "The Real World," which was bad enough, but now? They may as well just change the name of the channel to TV. They have shows about dating and fashion and teen pregnancy and other absurdities. Would someone please give me the phone number of the person who said putting snobby rich kids' Sweet 16 parties on the air is something Americans need to see, cause that person needs a swift kick. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good episode of "Jackass" every now and then, but all day long? Uh-uh.

For the hell of it, I read the Wikipedia entry on MTV before I began writing today, and it stated that the amount of time MTV aired actual videos per day in 2008 was three hours. Three hours, for a 24 hour music channel. Pathetic. I tried to find those three hours, and couldn't. It must be for the night owls who like to rock out at 3 am.

Even MTV's sister channels don't really air videos anymore. VH1, which used to be the "older person's" music channel, doesn't really show videos but at least make an attempt at music programming with countdown shows and Rock of Love (which is a whole other post!). MTV2 and VH1 Classic are doing the same things. Less music, more formatted programming. If I want to watch a video these days I log on to YouTube.

So is it necessary for artists to even make videos anymore? If they do, where are they seen? I saw Mariah Carey's latest pop up on the TV show America's Got Talent, but her husband is the host, so that's a no brainer. Are new artists only getting exposure if their songs are used in commercials and on TV shows? Is YouTube the new MTV?

In his 2007 VMA acceptance speech, Justin Timberlake challenged MTV to "play more damn videos, " but his challenge has, it seems, gone unanswered so far. I wonder where his next video will premiere?

Bach on Broadway

Yesterday when I posted a little blip about Bono doing Broadway, it got me thinking about about other musicians who have tried their hands at working on the Great White Way. Besides Elton John, who worked on The Lion King, and Aida, and what I'm told was a horrible adaptation of Interview With The Vampire, I could only come up with David Bryan, Bon Jovi's keyboardist. Memphis will open in the fall, following on the heels of The Toxic Avenger - although honestly, I don't care if Jon Bon Jovi himself starred in it, I wouldn't see a play about that nasty looking comic book character if you paid me (I guess lots of other people felt the same way).





Then I remembered. Sebastian Bach.






I've been a fan of Sebastian Bach since I first heard Skid Row back in the late 80s. He had a killer vocal range, and he was gorgeous to boot. After he parted ways with Skid Row, I lost track of him for a while until I heard he was appearing on Broadway in the title role in Jekyll and Hyde. It was a must see show.





Bach appeared as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Edward Hyde from April to October 2000. The role seemed tailor made for him. As Edward Hyde, he had the vocal chops to carry the songs like a veteran musical theater performer, projecting his voice throughout the theater and putting his heart into the performance. However, it was as Dr. Henry Jekyll that he kept me riveted to my seat. He brought his rock star attitude to the character and imbued him with a sense of rock 'n roll savagery that was breathtaking. The character is violent, and Bach's vocal style, his lanky frame and sheet of blond hair added another element to Jekyll that somehow I don't think the producers foresaw when the show was created. Bach's natural showmanship really kicked the crap out of the role.



One of the things I remember most clearly about the show was the curtain call at the end of the show. Sebastian came out to take a bow, and was handed a bouquet of red roses. Anyone who has ever seen him perform knows what came next. He bit some of the blooms off the flowers and spit them back at the audience, who gave him a well deserved standing ovation. I immediately flashed back to getting covered with petals at Skid Row's gig at the Ritz back in June 1989. Broadway or not, he's a rock star to the tips of his boots.

Bach played Jekyll and Hyde in between Jack Wagner and David Hassellhoff, and I can't imagine either of them in the role or performing it with the gusto and, quite frankly, balls that Sebastian did. I wish he'd return to the street of dreams. I'd be first in line to see the show.

Bono, The Edge and Spiderman

Okay, so Bono and The Edge are creating the music for the upcoming Broadway musical Spiderman. I can't decide whether this is going to be really, really cool.... or really, really too much.

40 Years since 3 Days

The 40th anniversary of the Woodstock festival is upon us, and I wonder, is it possible to be nostalgic for something you didn't experience?

As with most things music related, I became interested in Woodstock as a young teen. Back then, I saw the world through rose colored glasses (or so says my mother), and the idea of three days of peace, love and music was an idea I could totally get behind. I'd like to think I would have been a hippie, but with better hygiene. I thought spending three days with like-minded people, listening to great rock and roll would be an incredible thing to do. Even to this day, I can't get over the list of acts that performed - I mean, really, the Who and Jimi Hendrix on the same bill? Mind blowing! I read lots of first person accounts from people who were at the festival and saw the movie. Woodstock became the stuff of myths and legend for me, and for lots of other people (including those who said they were there, but actually weren't - you know who you are).

So it saddened me when I read an article in the newspaper recently that stated that today's generation feels that the legacy of Woodstock is overblown and overstated. They don't think it has the cultural significance that others (like me) think it does. Really?

The summer of 1969 saw our country at war. Young men were dying needlessly in a country that really didn't want our help. The Cold War was still in full swing. Three visionary leaders had been assassinated. The Civil Rights movement was demanding attention and change. A man walked on the moon. The sexual revolution and drug counter-culture were gearing up. In all this turmoil, 400,000 people came together to celebrate harmony, togetherness, peace. That's not culturally significant? Really?

In the years that followed, there have been musical festivals promoting change, equality and vision. They were important at the time, and made a difference to the causes they had been formed for. But somehow, possibly excluding Live Aid, I can't see someone bragging, or fake bragging as the case may be, "I was at G8 or insert name here."

Woodstock is more today than it was back then. It's not just a music festival. It marked the end of an era. Three Days of Peace, Love and Music doesn't mean the same now as it did then. It doesn't carry the same weight. It was a moment in time that can never happen again, because the world is not the same. And that's not overblown or overstated.

He'll Always Be The King

Yesterday marked the 32nd anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. It would be easy to insert a cheesy joke or remark here, but I'm not going to. Why? Because, simply, I love Elvis.

I was only 7 years old when Elvis died. I remember being outside playing when a neighbor came running out of his house yelling the news. My mom played his music in the house, and I'd heard it on the radio, but it didn't really resonate with me until a few years later when music became such a huge part of my life. I worked my way through his entire catalog, his movies, and recordings of his TV specials. Quite frankly, I don't have the words to describe exactly how talented the man was, and what an effect his music had on me. I was, and am still, in awe of his voice. I can't tell you what my favorite Elvis song is, because it changes all the time. I hear something new in his music every time I listen to it. But I can tell you I prefer Elvis in black leather as opposed to sparkly white jumpsuits. I've read the biographies and the tell-alls. I definitely consider myself a fan.

So, when I was in Nashville for business several years ago, I knew I had to make the trek to Memphis to visit Graceland. Who knew if I would ever be in the state again? A business colleague drove me across the state on a Saturday night and made the visit with me early on a Sunday morning - thanks, Joe Stewart! I'd seen photographs of course, but when you drive up to the famous white music note gates, I don't care who you are, your heart starts to pound. There is excitement and sadness all through the house and grounds - the thrill of "oh my God, he was actually here in this room" and the palor of such a waste of a great talent. The rooms that contain his gold records are absolutely amazing when you consider that Elvis was the first artist to ever achieve that status, ultimately selling over one billion records worldwide.

As I started writing today I also remembered a movie that I saw as a teen, which, while technically not about Elvis, shows a side of him that wasn't really seen by the public. The movie is called Touched by Love (or To Elvis With Love), starring Diane Lane as a young girl with cerebal palsy who is encouraged to write a letter to Elvis after she saw the movie Love Me Tender. A true story, Elvis not only answers her letter but gives her his private address and continues to write her until her death in 1963, showering her with cards and gifts. To me, this is a better representation of Elvis than the movies he made because the Colonel told him to. Those campy movies, while filled with great songs, don't do him justice at all.

He was, and will forever be, the King. Long live rock n' roll.

Long Live a Legend

At the risk of turning Friday posts into eulogies, I have to take the time today to mark the passing of guitar legend Les Paul yesterday at the age of 94 due to complications from pneumonia.

In 1941, Les Paul created what he called "the log" - a hollowed out piece of wood strung with steel filament. Little did he know that this instrument would evolve into the trademark guitar of some of the best musicians in the world, such as Pete Townsend, Steve Howe and Jimmy Page. Les Paul's signature model was produced by Gibson in 1952 and has gone on to be one of the most widely used guitars in music. It is also one of the most easily recognizable guitars as well, with its fluid lines and beautiful fret.

Les Paul was also an accomplished musician who, with his wife Mary, had 36 gold records and 11 number one hits during the course of his career. He also helped revolutionize the recording industry by helping to bring about the rise of multi-track recordings and overdubbing when making records.

His influence on the music industry as a whole is undeniable and visionary, a true musical legend.

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I'd also like to send wishes for a speedy recovery to Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Aerosmith was forced to cancel the rest of their summer tour after Steven fell off the stage at a recent show in South Dakota. He suffered a broken shoulder and needed stitches, so needless to say, he's in no shape to take the Tyler Shuffle back out on the road. It strikes me as kind of funny how he performed countless shows hyped up on drugs and managed to stay on the stage, but now that he's stone cold sober he falls off. Hmmm....

A Class Act

Award winning country duo Brooks & Dunn announced this week that they were calling it quits after 20 years together. They will release one last album and do one last tour, and after that, they'll ride off into the sunset... separately.

I give these gentlemen a hearty round of applause.

To look at each other honestly and say, you know what, I think we've done the best work we can do together but that our run is over, takes heart and guts and not a small dose of brutal reality. Brooks & Dunn are huge in the world of country music. They could have continued on making records and selling out tours for years to come. But they chose to stand up and admit that it's just their time to stop. That is a class act.

It's a great lesson for other acts to learn, who are just out there doing it for the money, and let's face it, we all know who they are.

Bravo, Brooks & Dunn. Best of luck to you both.

Don't Go There

Would someone please sit Miley Cyrus down and walk her through the career of Britney Spears? Following in her footsteps by pole dancing on a nationally televised award show aimed at teens when you are a teen yourself was not exactly the greatest move she's ever made. I'm not expecting her to remain frozen in time as a teenager forever, but when just about everything you do is marketed at tweens and younger, I honestly believe a little restraint is called for.

Prog Nation - Part II Dream Theater

As I mentioned yesterday, I've been a Dream Theater fan for a long time. I was introduced to their music by my musician boyfriend (now my musician husband) as a cool, wickedly good bunch of local whiz kids making good. We used to see them at small clubs like Sparks in Deer Park and I'm told we were at a couple of the same parties back in the day. We even went to see them play an entirely instrumental set while they were between singers, during which, I hate saying now, I was bored.

True fandom kicked in when I heard Metropolis Part I off the Images and Words album. I just couldn't get over what was going on in that song, and played it over and over. I have followed the band religiously ever since. Their music never fails to thrill me.

Their live shows are also awe-inspiring. I'm always amazed to watch them recreate such intense, power driven music in a live setting.

That being said, I have to admit to usually being disappointed by the set list at most of the shows. With 11 studio albums, several side projects, cover recordings and songs that extend way past the length of the typical, I'm sure it's extremely difficult to choose which songs to play live. So when the band came on stage at the Brookhaven Amphitheater for their set this past weekend, I was hoping for the best. They opened the show with the first two songs from the new Black Clouds and Silver Linings CD, A Nightmare to Remember and A Rite of Passage, which got the audience going. Then the mood shifted with Misunderstood, which is where I started to have those "uh-oh" feelings. Too mellow.

Every Dream Theater set must have an instrumental to showcase these fabulous players, so it was time for Erotomania. After Voices, the band played Forsaken, which is one of my favorite songs, so I was pleased, but then the mood dropped again while they played Sacrificed Sons. The song, which is about the loss of life on 9/11, was accompanied by video images of that day. While the song is beautiful, I can't help but think there were countless others that could have been chosen in place of that one. It was a beautiful Saturday night at an outdoor venue, packed with New Yorkers who maybe didn't need to be reminded of that day at that particular time. They closed the show with As I Am, and the encore was The Count of Tuscany off the new CD.

The highlight of the show for me came about halfway through. Mike Portnoy's son Max ran out on the stage behind his dad's drum riser and sat on the edge and watched the rest of the show. I don't know if the audience on the right side of the stage saw him, but he perched there for the rest of the show and watched his dad intently. At some point he was joined by John Myung's son as well. As a mom of two, I can't help it, I thought it was adorable.

The tour moved on to the Beacon Theater in Manhattan the next night, and my husband went with friends. He reported the next morning that Portnoy sat in with both Bigelf and Zappa, and that Dweezil joined Dream Theater for their encore, so clearly I missed the better show. But since the CD is still fairly new, hopefully there'll be another one to catch soon.