When he decided in the late 80s to tour as a solo artist? Of course, some of us in the rock consumer public were up for it, but what everyone really wanted was a Rolling Stones tour, and what we eventually got instead was the end of the Stones' fairly incredible run as a functioning rock unit. Really, when they came back for their first tour in 8 years in '89, it was all over, no history, no cultural heat, just the best brand in the business adding untold millions to the fortune it had spawned. Quick, name one tune from that album (Ok, i can, but that's because I was buying the purported return of these blokes, even though it wasn't really them, it wasn't really even 1981 anymore, and I wasn't a teenager.)
What made Mick think that his fronting a Stones tribute band could be better than the real thing (I must admit, however, that the second-best Van Halen show I ever saw was David Lee Roth the week before 9/11 at the Minn. State Fair. Bunch of ringers playing all Van Halen songs with him, smokin' hot, Dave in excellent form, better than almost all the actual, original VH shows I ever did see, especially the last one in '84.) The only thing I can think of that would have killed the Stones as effectively was Keef passing on to that great riff in the sky, which clearly he is never going to do. Keith's resulting solo album was probably the last authentic Stones album, though... Nice mullet Mick's got back in '87, tho.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-25-boldest-career-moves-in-rock-history-20110318
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tim McGraw/Grateful Dead
Tim McGraw going back to his swarthy/lonely-look phase of 10 years ago seems pretty cynical tribute to his old product self after his house-husband persona of the past couple of years. That really looks like a woman's demin shirt he's wearing on the website, I don't care if the chest hair looks like it's been specially groomed for the photo shoot.
Speaking of tribute bands, I ask you this, kind reader: Was the Grateful Dead's 1987 return the first classic rock tribute effort? When I think of the "hit singles" from that album, they certainly sound like the kind of tribute product the Rollin' Stones also became conversant in two years later and proceeded to "produce" up through '05 every couple of years when they toured. That year, '89, seemed to open the floodgates for going to see yer fave band from yore and pretending that it's yore. And spending a bunch of money on t-shirts and such, it has been honed to a science in the intervening years. And the Stones are the masters at making rock money, so there you go.
And now here's Tim McGraw suddenly looking a little lonesome and surly after playing the dutiful husband, the aging former hunky jock type in two Hollywood feature films. What are you selling, bub, and why should I buy it? Why should I buy anything? I'm tired.
Next up, Grateful Dead movie from last week.
Speaking of tribute bands, I ask you this, kind reader: Was the Grateful Dead's 1987 return the first classic rock tribute effort? When I think of the "hit singles" from that album, they certainly sound like the kind of tribute product the Rollin' Stones also became conversant in two years later and proceeded to "produce" up through '05 every couple of years when they toured. That year, '89, seemed to open the floodgates for going to see yer fave band from yore and pretending that it's yore. And spending a bunch of money on t-shirts and such, it has been honed to a science in the intervening years. And the Stones are the masters at making rock money, so there you go.
And now here's Tim McGraw suddenly looking a little lonesome and surly after playing the dutiful husband, the aging former hunky jock type in two Hollywood feature films. What are you selling, bub, and why should I buy it? Why should I buy anything? I'm tired.
Next up, Grateful Dead movie from last week.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
All-Time Support Band Winner goes to. . .
Van Halen, Fox Theatre, spring of 1978. The lads opened for Journey/Montrose double bill when Journey could still be called progressive. I do not know if Sammy Hagar was in Montrose then, but i'll find out. More to come. . .
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Support bands, opening acts, backup bands
Something that intrigues, the opening acts I saw over the years, some went onto greatness, others were n'er seen again. Some I can't exactly remember -- but I remember most of 'em.
Let's start with the ones who went huge after I saw them in support, I'll flush all of this out later so that all circumstances are reported because that is germane to me and this is me blog. In no particular order, number in patens is how many times I saw this band headlining in subsequent gigs.
Aerosmith (5)
Bob Seger (2)
Jeff Beck (1)
Foreigner
Cheap Trick
.38 Special (at least 3 times in support before 1978)*
Boston (1)
REO Speedwagon (2)
Kiss (3)
Jimmy Buffett (1)
There are others, i'm forgetting them, this to be continued...
* .38 Special was in support role in Atlanta for what seemed like all of the '70s but was probably '76 to around '78, and for that I give them the top prize in this category. First time i saw them was foot of day-long bill at Atlanta Stadium that ended with Kiss (one of Alex Cooley's nightmare scenarios because there were equipment and weather issues; it was a completely miserable day, and 11th grade started the following day -- WT? Makes me tired just thinking about it. Great bill marred by crappy planning.) They opened for Frampton in fall '77 at Omni, and I know I saw them open at least one show at the Fox. Interestingly, this was before Jeff Carlisi took the mic and they developed the early-'80s sound that generated innumerable hits. The middle Van Zant brother (Donny, i think) was the lead singer, and I remember he looked rougher than his elder brother of Skynyrd lore. They were nowhere near as pop-sounding as their later version, and Jeff Carlisi looked like a biker.
Let's start with the ones who went huge after I saw them in support, I'll flush all of this out later so that all circumstances are reported because that is germane to me and this is me blog. In no particular order, number in patens is how many times I saw this band headlining in subsequent gigs.
Aerosmith (5)
Bob Seger (2)
Jeff Beck (1)
Foreigner
Cheap Trick
.38 Special (at least 3 times in support before 1978)*
Boston (1)
REO Speedwagon (2)
Kiss (3)
Jimmy Buffett (1)
There are others, i'm forgetting them, this to be continued...
* .38 Special was in support role in Atlanta for what seemed like all of the '70s but was probably '76 to around '78, and for that I give them the top prize in this category. First time i saw them was foot of day-long bill at Atlanta Stadium that ended with Kiss (one of Alex Cooley's nightmare scenarios because there were equipment and weather issues; it was a completely miserable day, and 11th grade started the following day -- WT? Makes me tired just thinking about it. Great bill marred by crappy planning.) They opened for Frampton in fall '77 at Omni, and I know I saw them open at least one show at the Fox. Interestingly, this was before Jeff Carlisi took the mic and they developed the early-'80s sound that generated innumerable hits. The middle Van Zant brother (Donny, i think) was the lead singer, and I remember he looked rougher than his elder brother of Skynyrd lore. They were nowhere near as pop-sounding as their later version, and Jeff Carlisi looked like a biker.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Stones record with Wyman
Stones recorded a song with original bassist Bill Wyman for a Ian Stewart tribute album, and I think it's none too soon considering how they've banished him from their history, including airbrushing his photo from cover of rarities CD a couple years back and pretending it's still the Stones without him -- which it ain't.
As far as I'm concerned they quit being the Stones when Wyman left; it already had turned into Tribute City, but his leaving really kind of sealed it (literally and figuratively). If not, tell me what post-'89 Stones song belongs with the best 20 songs in their catalog? OK, the best 50 songs? I didn't think so.
I'm not saying that's due to Wyman, but he is a founder, one of the people who was there at the inception, the guy with the best amp (Vox) and the elder of the group (I think he's 90 by now).
Meanwhile, Rolling Stone, which I don't usually reference, makes a big deal of the fact that Jagger and Richards cut their contributions to this in separate studios. I think they've been working independently since the late 70s. I think I read it in RS.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stones-cover-bob-dylan-with-original-bassist-bill-wyman-20110408
As far as I'm concerned they quit being the Stones when Wyman left; it already had turned into Tribute City, but his leaving really kind of sealed it (literally and figuratively). If not, tell me what post-'89 Stones song belongs with the best 20 songs in their catalog? OK, the best 50 songs? I didn't think so.
I'm not saying that's due to Wyman, but he is a founder, one of the people who was there at the inception, the guy with the best amp (Vox) and the elder of the group (I think he's 90 by now).
Meanwhile, Rolling Stone, which I don't usually reference, makes a big deal of the fact that Jagger and Richards cut their contributions to this in separate studios. I think they've been working independently since the late 70s. I think I read it in RS.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rolling-stones-cover-bob-dylan-with-original-bassist-bill-wyman-20110408
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Second look at Frampton
Like most topics in this realm, things start to wither once you start examining them a little more closely. A buddy points out that Frampton went down a bit of a poncy path and many of us followed, but he never really recovered. If you don't know what I mean, look at the cover of his followup to "Comes Alive." See link.
http://frampton.com/albums/
Pretty Bieber. OK, totally Bieber. There's no coming back from hot pink satin britches and matching open-chested top. Why Robert Plant got away with this sort of thing but Frampton didnae, I can't tell you. Well, maybe I can tell you. Peter was pandering to those screaming girls -- first time I ever heard such in-person ('77), a solid 13 years post-Beatles (and I've only heard it twice since: Madonna and Strokes). He put the plane in a dive spiral and he couldn't regain control! Plus, Plant stuck mostly with earth tones.
Lookit, the screamers bought a lot of those records, how could he not? But that show in '77 was not enjoyable by the standards of the day (and I saw Styx that fall, i'll have you know, not to mention Bad Company and Steve Miller), especially in his milking of the crowd. Next time I saw him, 10 years later almost to the day, he was relatively anonymous sideman for Mr. Bowie, stadium show, pretty astounding switch.
I hate to bring this up because I think the guy has repented aplenty (Bowie sidemanship a good example -- he knows how to play the geetar, and that's what he's kept on doing. I actually purchased his '81 product because I thought it was rocking. And listen to the musical intro to his website, it's seriously badass.)
But my boss just walked into my office, saw that album cover on my computer screen and started laughing. I don't know if all the macho guitar chops in the world can overcome that.
http://frampton.com/albums/
Pretty Bieber. OK, totally Bieber. There's no coming back from hot pink satin britches and matching open-chested top. Why Robert Plant got away with this sort of thing but Frampton didnae, I can't tell you. Well, maybe I can tell you. Peter was pandering to those screaming girls -- first time I ever heard such in-person ('77), a solid 13 years post-Beatles (and I've only heard it twice since: Madonna and Strokes). He put the plane in a dive spiral and he couldn't regain control! Plus, Plant stuck mostly with earth tones.
Lookit, the screamers bought a lot of those records, how could he not? But that show in '77 was not enjoyable by the standards of the day (and I saw Styx that fall, i'll have you know, not to mention Bad Company and Steve Miller), especially in his milking of the crowd. Next time I saw him, 10 years later almost to the day, he was relatively anonymous sideman for Mr. Bowie, stadium show, pretty astounding switch.
I hate to bring this up because I think the guy has repented aplenty (Bowie sidemanship a good example -- he knows how to play the geetar, and that's what he's kept on doing. I actually purchased his '81 product because I thought it was rocking. And listen to the musical intro to his website, it's seriously badass.)
But my boss just walked into my office, saw that album cover on my computer screen and started laughing. I don't know if all the macho guitar chops in the world can overcome that.
What the hell happened to Frampton's axe?
I noticed the ad for his upcoming gig in Baltimore as part of his "Comes Alive" 35-year anniversary tour. It's got his photo from that album cover, but the head of his trusty Lester is missing. See below.
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
I decided to investigate, went right to his website, man that thing is smokin'. He got somebody smart and creative to design him something that for once does not insult our intelligence. It didn't take me long to find that missing Gibson head -- I just went to the link for his live dates. Scroll down this page.
http://frampton.com/live/
Say what you will about the phenomenon he became in the spring and summer of '76, at the ripe old age of 25. The guy has serious chops and he's never stopped honing them. Plus he lives in Cincinnati, and he offers his own pedals. Who could ask for more? I'm getting out the phase shifter when I get home.
https://tickets.piersixpavilion.com/
I decided to investigate, went right to his website, man that thing is smokin'. He got somebody smart and creative to design him something that for once does not insult our intelligence. It didn't take me long to find that missing Gibson head -- I just went to the link for his live dates. Scroll down this page.
http://frampton.com/live/
Say what you will about the phenomenon he became in the spring and summer of '76, at the ripe old age of 25. The guy has serious chops and he's never stopped honing them. Plus he lives in Cincinnati, and he offers his own pedals. Who could ask for more? I'm getting out the phase shifter when I get home.
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