Wednesday, November 29, 2006
GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISHEnjoy the pasture Bill, and to make this more pleasant for you, bring along all your corrupt cronies.
Monday, November 27, 2006
WHO WAS TRAINED NOT TO SPIT ON THE FANNormally, I don't truck with bootlegs, the quality is inevitably poor, and I'm not keen on pissing off the bands that feed.
One concert I'd love to have, though, would be Pink Floyd's 1977 show at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. This final show of the Animals or 'In The Flesh' tour was the birth of the album to follow - Pink Floyd's The Wall.
In a moment of disgust, Roger spit on a fan. He had become disillusioned with the separation between audience and band. He felt that the fans didn't get it. They were all too stoned to pay attention to the message - and Roger is all about the message.
I've been surfing the web for a download of this concert. I know it exists in the bootleg world, as I have found a number of references to it - I just can't find a download.
Maybe that's a good thing.
WET CARReleased in February of 1977, the first Peter Gabriel solo record established the former Genesis singer as an artist in his own right.
Enlisting Bob Ezrin as producer was a smart move, and it had at least one lasting effect on Peter - the introduction to Bassist and freakazoid Tony Levin.
Bob had been using Tony on his Alice Cooper sessions, and he brought him along to the sessions in Toronto for this classic LP. Bob also brought noted Alice/Lou session axe-men Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner. These two guitar legends lend the classic lead work on such tunes as 'Slowburn' and 'Here Comes The Flood'.
The addition of Robert Fripp and his Frippertronics give the album other guitar textures not found in the classic rock lexicon.
'Wet Car' is a collection of eclectic tunes ranging from soaring hard rock (Modern Love) to barber shop quartet (Excuse Me) and everything in between.
Much more realized and rooted than his last LP with Genesis (The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway), the first Peter Gabriel album shows Peter getting his feet wet in different styles, and preparing his way for the development of the 'Peter Gabriel Sound', which would solidify over the next two records, culminating on his third LP, also titled Peter Gabriel, but known to some as 'Melting Face', or the 'Games Without Frontiers' album.
There is one other notable after effect of the first Gabriel record. Roger Waters loved it, and hence, brought in Toronto Bob to co-produce The Wall.
NFL WEEK 12
What the F@ck? When I left my house at the start of the 4th quarter, everything was hunky dory in the land of the Giants. By the time I got to the studio, the score had changed from a nice 21-0 lead over the Titans, to 21-7. I made another quick jaunt to go pick up a keyboard at a friend's house a few blocks away, by the time I was returning the score was tied 21-21. What the f@ck?
How long does it take a New York football team to fall apart?
15 minutes.
I heard Shockey shot the whole team in their sleep last night.
And then there's the Jets!

Zero fumbles.
Zero INTs.
1 penalty in the 55th minute of the game.
Mistake free ball wins games.
Oh, and uh, scoring points.....
....and, uh, keeping the other team from scoring.

And the Saints! Deuce!
Brees with another stellar performance.
I smell playoffs!
I very much look forward to watching Dallas lose to the loser Giants next week.
What the F@ck? When I left my house at the start of the 4th quarter, everything was hunky dory in the land of the Giants. By the time I got to the studio, the score had changed from a nice 21-0 lead over the Titans, to 21-7. I made another quick jaunt to go pick up a keyboard at a friend's house a few blocks away, by the time I was returning the score was tied 21-21. What the f@ck?
How long does it take a New York football team to fall apart?
15 minutes.
I heard Shockey shot the whole team in their sleep last night.
And then there's the Jets!

Zero fumbles.
Zero INTs.
1 penalty in the 55th minute of the game.
Mistake free ball wins games.
Oh, and uh, scoring points.....
....and, uh, keeping the other team from scoring.

And the Saints! Deuce!
Brees with another stellar performance.
I smell playoffs!
I very much look forward to watching Dallas lose to the loser Giants next week.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
JACKSON GIVES YOU THE BIRDSo the Legal Diva and I had a production meeting last night about our holiday meal.
The menu:
1st course (appetizer): A cold plate featuring two cheeses (brie and peranno), olives, sweet gherkins, crackers, and hummous.
2nd course (soup): A roasted acorn squash soup
3rd course (main): A brined turkey roasted with cornbread and sausage stuffing. Green beans with sauteed onions, garlic, and pimentos. Roasted garlic mashed potatoes and turnips. Sauteed pancetta and yellow squash.
4th course (dessert): Sweet Potato Pie with roasted pecans.
I'm very excited.
DISTRESSORS - HOORAY!I got two new Distressors today. Well, actually I got two slightly used Distressors today. I purchased two Empirical Labs EL8 Distressors off an associate at my day job.
These compressors are the alpha and omega of high end signal chain compression.
George has one that he uses with his Telefunken mic pre, and David Murray has two that he uses with his Neve clone mic pre's.
Well, Smoke and Mirrors now has two to pair up with our two channels of Neve clone pre's.
We have officially arrived.Tony, you may never cry. But this shit will make you weep instantly when you hit town next month.
Bring tissue.
Monday, November 20, 2006
MURRAY IN THE HOUSEWe had the fortunate experience of having Dave Murray in our studio yesterday. (All you Maiden Heads pipe down, different excellent guitar player.) David is an Austin Texas institution, and it was my pleasure to visit his studio last year.
This time he stopped by our place to put some finishing touches on some work we've been doing for Chan Chandler - fellow Austin import, songwriter, compadre, and all around excellent dude.

Chan (pictured below) has been working both studios on this project, and it's been very fun, and very interesting; swapping files, having some studio pro in Austin lay down piano on tracks developed in Brooklyn, ect.
We got a couple takes of a guitar track out of Dave before we settled into the sound design portion of the evening.
We clapped, banged on metal, and wood, murmured, and generally created environments via sound.

It was fun, and we got a lot of work done.
It's nice when the two can be combined.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
CHADFor the world beyond New York, Chad has meant next to nothing. An injury laden also-ran with a 'water pistol' arm.
I wonder if any of these people remember the first few years of Joe Montana's career - injuries, doubt, and mixes results. Bret Favre was a slow starter as well, but hardly anybody remembers his time in Atlanta.
What Chad does have is smarts, determination, and a cool head. He reminds me of the fore-mentioned Montana, and another New York favorite - Phil Simms.
Chad gets the job done. He doesn't force the big play. Most importantly, Chad understands ball control, and working the clock.
Look at what he did last week against New England.
"The Jets held the ball for 9:12 in a magnificent 16-play, 81-yard drive that gave them a 7-3 lead in the second quarter. They used up 6:40 in a 15-play, 45-yard drive that led to a third-quarter field goal and a 10-6 advantage." - Newsday
"Controlling the football and keeping the defense off the field is demoralizing to your opponent," Pennington said.
Hell yeah.
I've said it before, but allow me to repeat myself. The only reason the Jets aren't 9-0 is because they haven't found replacements for Curtis Martin and Wayne Chrebet.
Kevan Barlow, Derrick Blaylock, and Leon Washington are good utility players, but ball control begins on the ground, and Curtis is sorely missed. Like my other all time favorite Running Back, John Riggins, he was an automatic 4 yard gain.
The Jets need a new Tight End as well. The likes of Chrebet are hard to come by, and though Chris Barker is tough like Shockey, he doesn't have the hands, or the ability to make plays like Wayne or Jeremy.
Chad is working miracles with what he's got, but what he's got is the ability to make miracles happen, and I need a miracle.......Every Sunday.
AND THEY'RE OFF..........John McCain would be my number one pick right now, he may piss me off, and slip down a notch or two, but as a serious contender, he's the only one who has declared intent that I trust not to fuck up the nation.

Barack is just not ready. I like him, I like his future, but he needs to be patient and work the Hill (all puns intended) a little while longer.

Absolutely not. Not ever. Maybe Cheif of Staff, or Attorney General, but never Commander in Cheif. Rudy is a Nazi of the highest order. He invented the term 'racial profiling'.

Oh Al, if only you'd come back. He probably won't, which is why McCain tops the list.

Hillary, you make a great politicain, like silly puddy you are. President?Nope. Maybe VP to McCain if your ego and ambition would allow it, but I can't see America giving you their trust.
John Edwards. I like him. Another good VP candidate, but I don't think he's got the pull for the run for the top spot.
MOROR CITY MADHOUSE

I told her that I came From Detroit City...........
(Ann Arbor actually)

And I played guitar In a long-haired rock and roll band ............


She asked me why the singer's name was Alice.........

I said listen, baby You really wouldn't understand...........

I told her that I came From Detroit City...........
(Ann Arbor actually)

And I played guitar In a long-haired rock and roll band ............


She asked me why the singer's name was Alice.........

I said listen, baby You really wouldn't understand...........
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
IF YOU GOTTA DO IT, DO IT THE AMERICAN WAY
Readers of this blog know I oppose the proposed 'Mexican Fence'. They most likely also know that Tony Alva is pro-fence. Tony and I have talked off-line as well, and I understand his concerns, and they are well founded. I just disagree with the method of fixing the problem.
This Texas town has gone about it in a way that I consider less offensive.
A wall barrier makes us no better than the Soviets, and, historically speaking is no solution at all. Hadrian's wall, the Great Wall of China - not effective. The Berlin Wall sure kept folks in, but then again, it only covered half the circumference of Berlin - a city, not 2,000 miles of national border, - 2,000 miles of sparsely populated country.
The citizens of San Diego will tell you that a wall does not stop illegal immigration.
What will?
Some will say nothing, but tough legislation concerning landlords and employers, and increased INS activity will slow it down some. Maybe long enough for us to focus on the real problems we face concerning the natural enviroment and spiraling national debt - oh yeah, and the situation with Islamozealotry.
Readers of this blog know I oppose the proposed 'Mexican Fence'. They most likely also know that Tony Alva is pro-fence. Tony and I have talked off-line as well, and I understand his concerns, and they are well founded. I just disagree with the method of fixing the problem.
This Texas town has gone about it in a way that I consider less offensive.
A wall barrier makes us no better than the Soviets, and, historically speaking is no solution at all. Hadrian's wall, the Great Wall of China - not effective. The Berlin Wall sure kept folks in, but then again, it only covered half the circumference of Berlin - a city, not 2,000 miles of national border, - 2,000 miles of sparsely populated country.
The citizens of San Diego will tell you that a wall does not stop illegal immigration.
What will?
Some will say nothing, but tough legislation concerning landlords and employers, and increased INS activity will slow it down some. Maybe long enough for us to focus on the real problems we face concerning the natural enviroment and spiraling national debt - oh yeah, and the situation with Islamozealotry.
Monday, November 13, 2006
CANTON BOUND11 Years
3,518 Rushes
14,101 Yards
4.0 Average Yards
90 Touchdowns
Better than Dickerson, Dorsett, Brown, or Simpson....
Better than John Riggins, Marcus Allen, Marshall Faulk or Franco Harris.
And done with the lowest profile of them all.
Sure Barry, Walter, and Emmitt rank above Curtis, but you must now mention him in the same breath.
SMOKE NAZISI shouldn't smoke. I know that. I smoke less these days, and plan to phase it out altogether, but I have a stressful job, and when I am on-site, out come the Parliaments.
I work in hotels. A good number of my associates are smokers - die hards, with no intention of quitting - ever.
Westin is a non-smoking hotel chain, and now, Marriott has gone smoke free as well.
They are stupid. Willard Marriott, shown above, is actively pursuing a vendetta against smokers.
We will smoke in the rooms regardless of your financial threats and attempts to keep us from engaging in a LEGAL activity in the privacy of our homes.
Yes, our homes. For that week, my room is my home.
The fascist owners of these hotel chains are, as I have said, stupid. They will incur much more trouble and cost due to their vendetta against us law abiding citizens.
Think about it. If you have 100 hundred smoking rooms, you know where the smoking is happening. If you have no smoking rooms, 100 random rooms will now become smoking rooms by default every night, and you'll have to find them, and clean them.
Silly.
I do not get to choose the venue for the meetings I work. If I did, I'd pick sensible hotels, like Hyatt, or Hilton, who have not chosen to persecute a large portion of their customer base.
Fuck you Willard.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
NHL
Last night was Hockey Night on the CBC, which is one of the channels you get here in Detroit. The featured game, viewed by my Uncle Mike, until he fell asleep, was the Canucks vs. Calgary. My guys lost, again, Vancouver is now 8/9. Apparently we're having Goalie issues.
Hue's Wild won in a Shoot Out against the LA Kings, bringing them to an astonishing 11/4.
Tony's Thrashers lost to the Lighting (whoever they are), but they are still dominating their division at 12/5.
Chrispy's Hurricane's salpped the Penguins (bad year to be from Pittsburgh) 6-2, putting them at a respecatble 9/6.
Take off, eh.
Last night was Hockey Night on the CBC, which is one of the channels you get here in Detroit. The featured game, viewed by my Uncle Mike, until he fell asleep, was the Canucks vs. Calgary. My guys lost, again, Vancouver is now 8/9. Apparently we're having Goalie issues.
Hue's Wild won in a Shoot Out against the LA Kings, bringing them to an astonishing 11/4.
Tony's Thrashers lost to the Lighting (whoever they are), but they are still dominating their division at 12/5.
Chrispy's Hurricane's salpped the Penguins (bad year to be from Pittsburgh) 6-2, putting them at a respecatble 9/6.
Take off, eh.
Friday, November 10, 2006

LIVE AND DANGEROUS/KISSOLOGY
I just purchased two music DVDs. Thin Lizzy's 1978 concert movie 'Live and Dangerous', and Kissology
The Thin Lizzy concert, filmed in 1978 at the Rainbow in London, documents the classic Lizzy line-up at the height of their rock prowess.
I have been waiting years for this to get re-released.
I'm so happy.

Kiss has released a compilation DVD of early live performances, with the usual added bonus stuff Gene and Paul like to toss our way - Kiss Alive promo spots, ect.
Kiss was a huge influence on my musical taste, and it was these years in particular that fascinated me in my youth.
As much as I am loathe to put yet more money in the pockets of Gene and Paul, I couldn't resist - and they knew it all along.
FREEDOM
Who Knew George Michael was such a visionary?
Thanks to Clarkie for the fwd.
Who Knew George Michael was such a visionary?
Thanks to Clarkie for the fwd.
JACKSON'S MUST SEE LIST1) For Your Consideration
Chris Guest and friends are back, this time Holywood itself is the subject.
I simply cannot wait.
View the trailer here.
2) Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of KazakhstanView Trailer Here.
Sacha is a genius.
#1 at the box office.
'Nuff said.

3) Casino Royale
I'm a huge Bond fan. My father instilled this trait in me. I've wrongly blamed him for many things in my life, but this one is all on him - thank God.
I have not been a fan of recent Bond films. The last 007 movie I went to see in the theater would be 1984's Octopussy - a truly horrible movie.
I like the Connery films, and the first few Roger Moore installments (Live and Let Die, Man With the Golden Gun).
This new one is both a back to basics, and a update all rolled into one.
We'll see if it lives up to my very high standards, and, as I plan to be very high when I go see it, I can only say that I'll most likely enjoy it, or I'll hate it - no in between.
View Trailer Here.
ALL IN THE FAMILYEddie's son, Wolfie, replaces Michael as VH bassist.
I guess we can only hope Valerie doesn't get the Vocalist slot.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
NFL WEEK 10 - CRUNCH TIMESo long Curtis. The NFL's 4th all-time leading rusher, and the most prolific yardage earner in the backfield for most of the past ten years is officially out for the season, and it doesn't look like he'll be back.
Most of you will say this common knowledge - but us true Jet fans held out an inkling of hope, until last week when it was announced.
What does this mean for the Jets.
Nothing.
J. E. T. S. Jets, Jets, Jets!
The Jets will destroy the Pats this week. It's a foregone conclusion. Brady was humiliated last week, and will crumble under the Jets pass rush led by Johnathan Vilma.

Baltimore beats Tennessee
Indy beats Buffalo
Cleveland loses in ATL
Green Bay loses in Minnesota
Houston Loses in Jacksonville
KC wins in Miami
Jets win in New England
San Diego loses in Cincinnati
San Fran loses in Detroit
Washington loses in Philly (Sorry Jennifer)
Denver wins in Oakland
Dallas wins in Arizona
New Orleans wins in Pittsburgh
St. Louis loses in Seattle
Chicago loses to the New York Football Giants
Tampa loses to the Panthers
THE PASSING OF INTEGRITYJackson doesn't watch a whole lot of 60 Minutes. In fact I avoid network programming like the plague - with the noted exception of NFL games. Mostly, I found 60 Minutes a bit sanctimonious, but Ed was different. Ed was cool. I liked him, he wore his liberal status, not on his sleeve, but on his ear-lobe. Mostly I felt that Ed was giving us the straight dope. About shit that mattered, about shit we could do something about.
I know I'll miss him. I know 60 Minutes will. I now have no reason at all to tune in. What I didn't know was how acclaimed he was in his profession. His list of awards is astounding.
So long Ed.
A CORNFEILD GROWS IN BROOKLYNOur cable went out two weeks ago. We've called Cablevision a bizillion times. Finally, last Saturday a Cable Guy showed up. We traced the line that goes into our house back into our neighbor's back yard, to find - A Cornfield!
Behind a fence, in back of the corn, in a totally inaccessible place is the pole where the line meets a junction box that feeds four times the number of homes than it should.
The Cable Guy was aghast. So was I. He asked for a supervisor to co
me assess the problem. I agreed. Well we've been waiting almost a week now for that to happen. Somebody was supposed to come out this morning, but they had to re-schedule. Go figure.Cablevision - you're infrastructure is fucked. Spend some of the gazillion dollars you take from us for your shitty service, and send some crews out to fix this shit. TODAY.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
FIXING A HOLE (THE CYCLE CONTINUES)Tomorrow morning, after the celebrations, with hangovers in tow, the newly empowered Democratic party has a lot of work to do.
This is nothing new, but it's worse this time.
Reagan/Bush left us deeply in debt, and, fortunately, we had a capable leader in Bill Clinton, who was able to put us back in the black - even with a Republican Revolution happening during his second term.
The GOP loves to call the Dems 'tax and spend liberals'. Well the fact is we have to tax to pay back the incredible deficits left by the real big spenders - the Republicans.
What's worse; tax and spend, or spend and spend?
As I mentioned, it's worse this time. Bush/Cheney has left us even deeper in debt than Ronnie could have ever imagined - I don't think he could count that high.
And it's more than money.
In 2000 the people elected Al Gore, but somehow a coup happened (thanks Jeb), and Bush got in anyway. Had Al taken office, he would have began sweeping, radical changes in the way we live and work - necessary changes.
I am talking about the environment, of course.
That's a huge hole that needs to be fixed - NOW.
There was no way Bush and his oil cronies would have done squat about global warming - they don't care for two reasons:
a) They care more about the short term financial gains.
b) They are end-timers who believe we have begun the final battle referred to in the Bible as Armageddon, in other words, they don't see us living another fifty years anyway.
SO - while your knocking back your justly deserved celebratory cocktails tonight, give a pause, and think about how we can turn this mess around.
GOODBYE RUMSY GOODBYE..........Savage Distortion's Roving Reporter The Legal Diva was first to provide us with this most awesome news:
In what appears to be the first public act in which Donald Rumsfeld wasted no time, he has stepped down as Defense Department Liability in Chief.
GW has named former CIA honcho Bob Gates as his successor.
I don't know about anyone else, but I ain't never seen a mid-term election like this.
The people have spoken.
MODULATEFor some time now, I've had a link to Bob Mould's blog (Modulate) on my sidebar. Much to my shame I never clicked it myself. Well, today I decided to check in with Bob, and used my link instead of typing in my browser like I normally do (I'm trying to join the new generation, but I'm a slow adapter), and lo and behold - 'Page Not Found'.
What!
Where did Bob go?
Well, nowhere, my link was faulty - and I fixed it! All By myself!
Now the world is safe to click the Boblog link on my sidebar and enjoy the blog of one of the last innovators in rock music. Bob's newest project is Blowoff, a power-pop vehicle. After all he has done in the fields of music and wrestling, you'd think he run out of steam.
Nope.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNINGManhattan is drenched in downpour, but you can feel the happiness in the air.
Evil has been defeated.
No more outlawed science.
No more bigoted legislative policy.
No more Theocracy in America.
No more War Pigs have the power.
Monday, November 06, 2006

A GREAT SUNDAY
The Jets didn't lose (bye week).
The Giants won.
The Cowboys lost.
The Patriots lost.
New Orleans won.
Yay!
Friday, November 03, 2006
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTHWatch the trailer.
This is serious.
This is paramount.
Nothing else matters if we don't do something about this.
WHAT'S MY PLAN?At a recent stump in Missouri, Prez says to Dems: what's your plan for Iraq?
I'll tell you mine.
1) Vote out the Hawks
2) Get Al back
3) Repair international relations
4) Form international force and intelligence agency to deal with Islamoterrorism and the spread of Fundamental Islam into Africa and Indonesia.
5) Pay back China the gazillion dollars the GOP has borrowed
6) Start fixing the more pressing issue of the planet Earth fixing to die, or at least shed itself of our annoying presence upon it (see number two).
What's yours?
NHL
They're baaaaack.
Hue's Wild is monsterous atop the Northwest Division at 10/2 - lookout! My Canucks aren't too far behind at 7/6, but they need to step up. My advice; switch to better delivery service with more potent weed - Hockey is a zone sport after all.
Tony's Thrashers are atop their division at a respectable 8/3.
I'm sporting my Canucks jersey today in the hopes that my Chad Pennington jersey get's pised off and steps up next week.
They're baaaaack.
Hue's Wild is monsterous atop the Northwest Division at 10/2 - lookout! My Canucks aren't too far behind at 7/6, but they need to step up. My advice; switch to better delivery service with more potent weed - Hockey is a zone sport after all.
Tony's Thrashers are atop their division at a respectable 8/3.
I'm sporting my Canucks jersey today in the hopes that my Chad Pennington jersey get's pised off and steps up next week.
NFL WEEK 9
ATL wins in Detroit
Baltimore over Cincinnati
Dallas loses in Washington
Green Bay over Buffalo
Houston loses to The New York Football Giants
KC wins in St. Louis
Miami loses in Chicago
New Orleans wins in Tampa
Minnesota wins in San Fran
San Diego beats Cleveland
Denver wins in Pittsburgh
Indy Vs. NE - hmmmm, can both teams lose? Guess not. Okay - Indy wins ( I feel like a whore)
Seattle over Oakland
Jets get long overdue rest - watch for Curtis Martin to return next week and help Gang Green win the Wild Card slot.
ATL wins in Detroit
Baltimore over Cincinnati
Dallas loses in Washington
Green Bay over Buffalo
Houston loses to The New York Football Giants
KC wins in St. Louis
Miami loses in Chicago
New Orleans wins in Tampa
Minnesota wins in San Fran
San Diego beats Cleveland
Denver wins in Pittsburgh
Indy Vs. NE - hmmmm, can both teams lose? Guess not. Okay - Indy wins ( I feel like a whore)
Seattle over Oakland
Jets get long overdue rest - watch for Curtis Martin to return next week and help Gang Green win the Wild Card slot.
SHUT UP YA DAMN FOOLKanye, give it up. Money can't buy you talent. Just because you spent a bizzilon dollars on your video doesn't make it good. And by the way, the same goes for your record.
'But I had Pamela in my video....'
Please....
WHAT'S WRONG; CAN'T A BLACK MAN CARRY A COLLAPSIBLE BATON IN HIS SUITCASE?Yeah, Snoop is a real threat in the sky. Shit, I suppose these guys never saw 'Soul Plane', Snoop's a damn pilot for chrissakes!
I can imagine them not letting him fly with it, but to charge him with possession of a deadly weapon - hell, I suppose Snoop could make a deadly weapon out of anything he wanted - like McGuiver he is, but really, isn't this a bit over-reactive?
LET'S GO SPACE TRUCKIN'"Sweet child in time you'll see the line
The line that's drawn between good and bad
See the blind man shooting at the world
Bullets flying taking toll
If you've been bad, Lord I bet you have
And you've not been hit by flying lead
You'd better close your eyes and bow your head
And wait for the ricochet"
More Blues/Jazz than Jazz/Blues, really, Deep Purple brought volume, intensity, and flared jeans across the stages of Europe, Asia, and America throughout the early to mid seventies, trailblazing the way for their younger siblings - UFO, Thin Lizzy, Judas Priest, ect....




Their LP's were often inconsistent, their lyrics were sometimes bafflingly insipid, but the riffs were huge, and man that organ....well, ain't nobody done it like John Lord, before or since.
In 1974, after a slew of LP's, live and otherwise, singer Ian Gillan, and bassist Roger Glover left the band. Ian would form the ill fated Gillan - an excuse to drink in towns across Europe, and Roger would embark on a career as a record producer, most notable with Nazareth. Ian was replaced by David Coverdale (future Whitesnake frontman and Robert Plant clone), and Roger was replaced by bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, noted party animal.
They released three records. Each a little less good, culminating in 1975 with one of the worst records ever made. The horribly named 'Come Taste the Band' featured guitar virtuoso and future corpse Tommy Bolin as Ritchie Blackmore's replacement. Blackmore recruited Glover and went on to form Rainbow with future Metal Elf Ronnie James Dio.




Deep Purple collapsed, and re-formed as Whitesnake, then everybody bailed on Coverdale, and re-formed Deep Purple with Gillian, Glover, Blackmore, Lord, and Pace in 1984 for the massively successful 'Perfect Strangers' LP, which featured one of the most truly aweful and wonderful lyrics of all time: "So we put her on the hit list, of a common cunning linguist"
Nice.

The Purple continues on to this day, touring, and releasing albums. After two records Blackmore left again, this time replaced by another guitar wonder, ex- Dixie Dregg Steve Morse, and more recently, the ailing John Lord, organ master, hung up his hat, and retired. He was replaced by his protege, Don Airey, formerly of every band who wanted John Lord but couldn't get him.
I saw Deep Purple live at the Beacon two years ago. They were awesome. Ian Pace is just south of Bonham on the all time great drummers list, and Morse can play like nobody's bidness. Gillan sounds just like he did back in 1970, and Don Airey does a great job of keeping John Lord's contributionts to the lexicon alive. Roger is Roger, and that's all I ask - kimono and all.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
NOT A CHANCE IN HELLYou won't ever see these guys in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The more I think about it, the more I don't give a damn. It's like the Grammys - I watch (sometimes) just to see how utterly rediculous the whole thing is.
These guys are my heroes. They got me through high school. Not a day goes by that I don't listen to at least one song by one of these bands, but that don't mean shit for the induction team at the Rock Hall. The countless bands inspired by these trailblazers of guitar rock add up to nothing in the eyes of the industry driven Hall of Lame.
This is not to say that the bands inducted thus far don't deserve their canonization. It's just a line is drawn, and that line is made of dollars.

Hard rock has always been eschewed by the mass media.
You never heard anything from this record on the radio.
Hard Rock is a 'live' thing. Yeah, we bought the records, hell yeah we did, but we bought 'em because of the vibe we got from seeing them live, or, with the hope that someday we might be able to see them live.
Do you think Lemmy cares about the Rock Hall? I don't. Lemmy IS rock and roll, he is the very living spirit of what it is all about, but you'll never see his visage in that museum in Cleveland. You probably will see some of his progeny though.

Nazareth? Forget about it.............oh, you already have.
Shame.

Maiden..........doubt it. Iron Maiden has as much of a chance in getting into the Rock Hall as 'The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner' has of getting played on WPLJ, which is to say; none.
Name ONE guitar player who hasn't spent a half hour working out the riff to 'Smoke on the Water' - this is mandatory guitar 101 stuff. They have been eligible for years.It'll never happen.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
HALL OF SHAME
It's that time of year again. The class of 2007 has been nominated, and, of course, the same omissions are apparent.
Where is Alice?

Where is Kiss?

Last year Sabbath and Skynyrd finally got their long over due inductions, so maybe they are saving Alice and Kiss for the years ahead when they will start having problems finding worthy inductees.
In 2012 when Guns and Roses and Jane's Addiction become eligible, what then? Who's worthy? What band to come along since 1987 is worth nominating?
It's that time of year again. The class of 2007 has been nominated, and, of course, the same omissions are apparent.
Where is Alice?

Where is Kiss?

Last year Sabbath and Skynyrd finally got their long over due inductions, so maybe they are saving Alice and Kiss for the years ahead when they will start having problems finding worthy inductees.
In 2012 when Guns and Roses and Jane's Addiction become eligible, what then? Who's worthy? What band to come along since 1987 is worth nominating?
NIGHTS ON BROADWAYChan gave the Legal Diva and I tickets to see The Color Purple last night for my birthday.
Those who know me know I hold musical theater in contempt (mostly). My thinking is that in combining drama with music, you get a weaker version of both.
Not in this case.
The cast was amazing, the songs were great (mostly), and the design was fantastic.
Go see it.




















