Laugh Laugh

December 3 1948
Today we celebrate the birth of Ozzy Ozbourne.
And on his 17th birthday in 1965, The Beau Brummels were featured guests on ABC TVs The Flintstones.
I dig sixties pop, but i'm also a big fan of Ozzy-era Black Sabbath. I was torn between the two, so heres the Flintstones clip followed by some classic Ozz-man.

Thriller!

December 2, 1983
MTV aired the full 14-minute version of Michael Jackson's THRILLER video for the first time. I remember this from when i was a kid. It was kind of a big deal, and still one of (if not thee) greatest music video ever made.

Sex Pistols

December 1, 1976.
The infamus "Bill Grundy interview" was taped on this day.
The Sex Pistols and friends appeared on ITV's 'Today' show in place of Queen who had to cancel their appearance because Freddy Mercury had to go to the dentist. (I'm not even making this up.) The shows host, Bill Grundy, taunted them and asked the band to "Say something outrageous." Guitarist Steve Jones let the f-word fly. Following the appearance, The Sex Pistols were banned and concert promoters cancelled dates.
Host Bill Grundy was also fired.


This is the whole appearance. Re-edited back together from various sources, as it would have been seen 33 years ago, including a performance of "No Fun."

Bass

November 30.
Bass-O-Rama.
Two of the baddest bottom enders to ever play the insturment
1943- Leo Lyons, of Ten Years After was born on this day.
1945- Roger Glover of Deep Purple was also born today.

Slow Down

November 29, 1944.
Felix Cavaliere of the Young Rascals (Who later became simply 'The Rascals') is 65 years old today.
They gave us the oldies radio staples: "Groovin", "Good Lovin","I've Been Lonely Too Long", & "People Got To Be Free" to name a few. Of course, i prefer their earlier, punkier records: "Come on up", "I ain't gonna eat my heart out anymore", and this- one of my favorite garage stompers of all time "Slow Down" featuring Felix on lead vocals.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is why our parents parents hated rock and roll music (and why our parents loved it so much.)
Turn it UP- and "Slow Down"



Honorable mention birthdays for November 29th:
The guy who showed us that blues music made by white people could be taken seriously- John Mayall was born, and the guy who gave Sammy Hagar his first gig- Ronnie Montrose was born. Also, on this day in 1996 ukulele player Tiny Tim passed away (on stage, while performing his only hit song) and in 2001 former Beatle, Willbury, solo artist (and ukulele enthusiast) George Harrison passed away after a lengthy battle with lung cancer.

Watch out for your ears!

November 27, 1942

The son of Lucille Jeter and James "Al" Hendrix, The late great Jimi Hendrix is born at 10:15 a.m. at Seattle's King County Hospital.

In 1967, on his 25th birthday he appeared at the Whitla Hall, Queen's College in Belfast. He performed two shows.

Also on this day in 1962, The Beatles recorded their first BBC radio session in London. The tracks were later aired on the BBC Program 'Talent Spot.'

Here's Jimi doing Sgt. Pepper's only a matter of days after it hit the record store shelves in 1967. One of those legendary rock and roll tales- Allegedly Paul and George were in the audience, and Jimi and the band had only rehearsed the song quickly right before giong on stage. They probably never played it again.

The sound quality is shit, but this performance is amazing.

Tina

November 26, 1939.
Tina Turner is born.
Here she is back in the day with Ike.
This footage is pretty great. It's Ike and Tina's entire set. I could be wrong, but it doesn't seem to be edited, the whole performance clocks in at just under 10 minutes. Short and sweet.
Taken from one of those package tour deals with a shitload of different acts called "The Big TNT Show." It was taped just days after Tina's 27th birthday on November 29, 1966 in Los Angeles.
Other acts who performed included: The Lovin Spoonful, Ray Charles, Petula Clark, Bo Diddley, Joan Baez, The Ronettes, The Byrds, and Donovan- To name a few.


Tina Turner with Ike, and their super-cool medley of hits.

The Last Waltz

November 25, 1976.
Thanksgiving night of that year, The Band perform their "Last Waltz" concert at San Francisco's Winterland ballroom.
One of the great Rock movies of all time.

Death. Disease.

November 24

Junior Walker died of cancer on this day in 1995.
Some of the best saxophone ever played.

Freddy Mercury of Queen also died of Aids on this day in 1991.
Some of the best vocals ever sang.

I went with Junior Walker on this one. Not that i don't dig Queen, i just would rather hear THIS:

The Zapruder Film

I know, it's not very 'Rock and roll' but the assassination of president John F Kennedy On November 22, 1963 was- and still is- kind of a big deal.
The fact that the incident was captured on film, and the crime is still unsolved nearly 50 years after the fact makes it one of the great mysteries of the century. Of all time even.

There are a zillion diffrent theories on what exactly went down in Dallas at 12;30 pm, but you don't need me to tell you that.
See the Zapruder film again for the first time, and make up your own.


And here's the Misfits' take on the whole situation. The lyrics are mostly nonsensical- (Masturbate me, suck, suck, fuck, etc...) But i'm a huge fan of the Misfits and just couldn't resist.
I threw in the words for good measure.

President's bullet ridden body in the street
Ride, Johnny, ride
Kennedy's shattered head hits concrete
Ride, Johnny, ride
Johnny's wife is floundering
Johnny's wife is scared
Run, Jackie, run
Texas is an outrage when your husband is dead
Texas is an outrage when they pick up his head
Texas is the reason that the president's dead
Ya gotta suck, suck, Jackie, suck
President's bullet ridden body in the street
Ride, Johnny, ride
Kennedys shattered head hits concrete
Ride, Johnny, ride
Texas is an outrage when your husband is dead
Texas is an outrage when they pick up his head
Texas is the reason that the president's dead
Ya gotta suck, suck, Jackie, suck
Arise Jackie-O
Jonathan F. Kennedy will rise and be shot down
Dirt's gonna be your desert
My cum'll be your life source
And the only way to get it
Is to suck
Or fuck
Or be poor and devoid, and masturbate me
Masterbate me, then slurp it from your palms
Like a dry desert soakin' up the rain, soakin' up the sun
Like a dry desert soakin' up the rain, soakin' up the sun

Don

November 21, 1980.
The incident.
The day after bandmate Joe Walsh's 33rd birthday, Don Henley was arrested after a naked 16-year old girl was found in his Los Angeles home suffering from a drug over-dose.

Celebrating with Joe on his birthday the night before? (You gotta wonder.)
Ahh, the good ole days- Don received a measley $2,000 fine, and two years probation.
If this happened today he would have served hard time, rock star or not.

I'm no fan of the Eagles, but i am a fan of Joe Walsh- go figure.
Here's Joe doing a pretty amazing version one of his signature numbers with his new band in 1977, featuring the afroed one on drums.

Joe Walsh

November 20, 1947

Guitar player, singer, and all around cool dude, Mr. Joe Walsh was born on this day.

Sure he became an Eagle, but hey, there's no shame in honest work. A guy's gotta make a living.

Here's one of the baddest-assed live versions of pretty much any song, ever.
Quite possibly the very first example of what we now know as 'Stoner Rock.'

Unplugged

November 18, 1993.
Nirvana recorded their MTV unplugged special at Sony Studios, New York.

Here's a peppy number by the happy-go-lucky Kurt Cobain and co.



Speaking of Dave Grohl- I got the Them Crooked Vultures album. I dug it quite a bit. Good to hear Dave behind the drums again. If you get the chance, listen to it on headphones. If you haven't heard it yet, get it, then listen to it on headphones.
You can thank me later.

Tull

November 17, 1946
A good excuse to dig on some Tull

Today is the birthday of one Martin Barre, guitar player for Jethro Tull, seen here in this old-ass footage from French television in 1969.
Mr. Barre has been with the band since 1968. Not the original guitarist of the band, but he has been with them ever since.

Also on this day in 1979, Jethro Tull bass player John Glascock died at the ripe-old-age of 28. His death was a result of a congenital heart defect. Before his stint with Jethro Tull, he was a member of Chicken Shack.

I know that this is Martin Barre on the six strings, but i think that this must be Glen Cornick on the bottom end in this performance. Glascock didn't join the band until the mid 70's, he played with them until his untimely demise. Jethro Tull have had many, many lineup changes throughout their 40+ year existence.

No disrespect to the departed, but i prefer the oldies, and "A song for Jeffrey" is one of my favorites- My name being Jeff and all....
So, here 'tis

Convoy

November 15, 1928.

Counrty music singer C W McCall celebrates his 81st birthday today.
Who is C W McCall, you ask..?
He's the guy who gave us this gem.
"Convoy" from the film of the same name starring Kris Kristofferson. This is the rerecorded-for-the-film, with-new-lyrics version. Its got a great montage of clips from the movie.
Great flick by the way. If you get the chance, its a hell of a way to waste an hour and a half of your time. If you like 1970's trucker movies that is...

Mitch

November 14, 2008
Mitch Mitchell died one year ago. (It was actually yesterday, but i missed it.) Mitch joins Jimi, and Noel in that old jam session in the sky, and the Jimi Hendrix Experience beat the Ramones in the 'deadest band in rock and roll history' category.

This blurb is from the You tube page which contains the video- I couldn't have put it better:
The legendary Mitch Mitchell pioneered a style of drumming, which would later become known as fusion. This is a "lead" style of playing distinguished by interplay with lead instruments such as guitar or keyboards, and the melding of jazz and rock drumming styles.Alongside Hendrix's revolutionary guitar work and songwriting, Mitchell's playing helped redefine rock music drumming.
Mitch Mitchell playing style is like one big solo and sounds far more impressive when its not intended to be.
He does everything he needs within the songs.
Mitch Mitchell, the best, the intuitive,the creator of the fusion, the inovator and versatile drummer ever.
R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell.

Here's a quick Mitch Drum solo that leads into the Voodoo Child riff.

Screaming Lord Sutch

November 12.

First of all, it was this date (1985 to 1955) that Marty McFly traveled back to in Back To The Future.

On this day in 1944, organist, bandleader, and namesake of Booker T and the MG's, Booker T Jones was born.

And In 1955 Neil Young was born in Toronto, eh.

This is cool stuff and all, But we've all seen Back to the future, As great as it still is we've heard "Green Onions" a zillion times before.... And Neil Young- Well he's Neil-Fucking-Young. Period.

Today also marks the date of the birth of the late great Screaming Lord Sutch.
Screaming Lord Sutch was a singer in the 1960's who made records with a pre-Zep Jimmy Page & John Bonham, Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore and several other british rockers of note. He was kind of like Englands answer to Screamin' Jay Hawkins, only white, and in a very British mid-60's kinda way. If you see "Lord Sutch and heavy friends" i would recommend picking it up.
He was also a 'politician' and leader of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Allegedly, he was the first long-haired rock star- boasting hair over 18 inches long. His early records included 'Jack The Ripper' and 'I'm A Hog For You Baby.'
The self-styled lord, real name David Sutch, was Britain's longest-serving political leader, standing in nearly 40 elections.
Mr Sutch passed away in 1999.

I like the 88's on this one. I don't know who plays it, but it sounds a lot like the piano on The Who's first album. They all used hired and sometimes unnamed studio musicians back in those days. Produced by Shel Talmy? It's the same era. I don't know for a fact, but it sure sounds like it.

Jack the Ripper.

Green Tambourine

November 11, 1968.
One hit wonders The Lemon Pipers hit #1 on the U.S. charts with "Green Tambourine".
Here's a really odd clip from some local TV show in Cincinatti.

The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald

November 10, 1975.
The Edmund Fitzgerald sinks in Lake Superior and becomes the subject of Gordon Lightfoot's epic song.

Check out the mighty Fitz on Myspace

A nice tribute to the 29 men who lost their lives aboard the 'Big Fitz.'


.
The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy.

With a load of iron ore - 26,000 tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early

The ship was the pride of the American side
Coming back from some mill in Wisconson
As the big freighters go it was bigger than most
With a crew and the Captain well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with a couple of steel firms
When they left fully loaded for Cleveland
And later that night when the ships bell rang
Could it be the North Wind they'd been feeling.

The wind in the wires made a tattletale sound
And a wave broke over the railing
And every man knew, as the Captain did, too,
T'was the witch of November come stealing.

The dawn came late and the breakfast had to wait
When the gales of November came slashing
When afternoon came it was freezing rain
In the face of a hurricane West Wind

When supper time came the old cook came on deck
Saying fellows it's too rough to feed ya
At 7PM a main hatchway caved in
He said fellas it's been good to know ya.

The Captain wired in he had water coming in
And the good ship and crew was in peril
And later that night when his lights went out of sight
Came the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Does anyone know where the love of God goes
When the words turn the minutes to hours
The searchers all say they'd have made Whitefish Bay
If they'd fifteen more miles behind her.

They might have split up or they might have capsized
They may have broke deep and took water
And all that remains is the faces and the names
Of the wives and the sons and the daughters.

Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.

In a musty old hall in Detroit they prayed
In the Maritime Sailors' Cathedral
The church bell chimed, 'til it rang 29 times
For each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
Superior, they say, never gives up her dead
When the gales of November come early.

Pretty Things

November 9, 1944.
Phil May, vocalist for The Pretty Things was born. Underrated in the U.S. next to the heavy hitters of the original British Invasion (Stones, Kinks, Beatles, etc.) No less awesome, just a little less heard.
I like this video. An obvious lip-sync, but you can tell that they were having a lot of fun doing it.
They were probably hopped-up on goof balls or stoned on the reefer.
Girls and Goats, that's rock and roll.

Good Times

November 6, 1947.
George Young, Australian rock musician, songwriter and record producer, best-known as a member of Australian 1960s band The Easybeats He was the co-writer of the hits "Friday On My Mind" and "Love is in the Air", and one of my Personal faves, "Good Times."

George Young first achieved international success in the 1960s as the rhythm guitarist in The Easybeats. Young co-wrote nearly all of their songs, first with singer Stevie Wright, then later with lead guitarist, Harry Vanda. With Vanda, he co-produced the first four Rose Tattoo albums, and first six albums of another Aussie band you may have heard of called AC/DC, who feature his two younger brothers Malcolm and Angus as members. He also played as AC/DC's bass guitarist for a brief stint early in their career, though did not appear on any of their recordings.

"Good Times." Featuring the late great Steve Marriott on backing vocals.

Big Man

You like the Boss?
You need to read this book right away.
You will be glad you did.
I'm looking forward to it.

Sorry about the shameless plug, but it's good for a free copy.
.

Rumble

November 5, 2005.
Rock and roll pioneer, guitarist Link Wray died on this day. He was 76 years old.
Mr. Wray was credited with inventing the 'fuzz' guitar sound after punching holes in his speaker, giving him a distorted guitar sound. The sound taht The Kinks later perfected on their early 60's records. His 1958 single 'Rumble' was banned on several radio stations, on the grounds that it 'glorified juvenile delinquency.' Quite a feat, considering the song had no lyrics. Like the old saying goes: "Any publicity is good publicity."

This guy was the ultimate greaser.
He's so greasy, he glides when he walks. He doesn't go to the barber shop for a hair cut, he goes in for an oil change.

Twist and shout

November 4, 1963

John Lennon made his famous request to British royalty in 1963 when he introduced “Twist and Shout.”

“For our last number I’d like to ask your help. Would the people in the cheaper seats, clap your hands? And the rest of you, if you just rattle your jewelery.”

The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were in attendance, but Queen Elizabeth herself wasn’t at the Royal Variety Show at the Prince of Wales Theatre in London.

They performed three songs: “Twist and Shout,” along with “She Loves You” and “Till There Was You,”
It's nice to actually hear them sing and play since most footage from this era (Ed Sullivan, etc) is drowned out by the screaming fans.
This is a good 'un.

As slow as possible

As slow as possible.

Check this out. I found articles about this a year or so ago. I don't know why i didn't share it then, or mabye i did- i don't remember...

The longest piece of music ever is being performed as you read this. And will continue for a very long time.
This is something i gotta see (and hear) before i die.

No hurry though, we got about 630 years before it's too late.

target="_blank">Here's the official website

target="_blank">And the wikipedia page

I have never been to Germany before but i figure that this is a pretty good excuse to visit. Germans and myself are a lot alike. We both like beer, encased meat products, and extremely ridiculous music. I'll fit right in.
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