I love me a good Rock and Roll story... Especially when the story's coming from a true Rock and Roller.
Well they don't get much more true than Jeff Beck, who took over for Eric Clapton when Slowhand left the Yardbirds, and THAT apprently "pissed off" Clapton.
That's just one of the stories Beck tells in the interview he recently did with LouderSound.com that you can find here.
If you haven't clicked the link yet, here are a few more tidbits from the interview:
Beck talks about how he'd often be mistaken for Mick Jagger in 1961 when he had no idea who Mick Jagger was.
He talks about time he spent with Jimi Hendrix and the first time he saw Hendrix play in the UK.
Keith Moon tried to sell him a car one time.
And so much more. It's truly a great interview that hosts some classic rock gems.
Enjoy!
I received a book in my work mail recently. "Aerosmith to ZZ Top; A Dad & Daughter's Rock & Roll Journey" tells the story of this duo seeing more than 200 performers in 58 unique venues on a trek spanning over 27,000 miles and chance meetings with the rockers along the way.
The cool thing about this book is it is written by father and daughter Terry and Moira Armstrong. The two bonded over their shared love of classic rock and attending concerts which is something I have loved doing with my own children.
It's not out of the ordinary for me to receive items such as this in the mail to peruse and perhaps mention on the air but something struck me as I began to flip through the pages. They gave me a shout out, right there on page 174! This was definitely a first for me. To Terry and Moira, I say I am humbled and deeply grateful for including me in this book about your trek. I have enjoyed reading your stories.
Pick it up if you see it. It's a good read.
Pete Townshend has given permission to have a song of his used to promote this year's World Blood Donor Day which is Monday, June 14. The song, "Give Blood," was on his 1985 solo album "White City; A Novel."
"Although it is now more than 35 years since I wrote the song 'Give Blood', this is the first time it has actually been used to encourage donation," Townshend said and added, "shortage of blood around the world is a huge issue, particularly in poorer countries, and so I was delighted to give permission for Global Blood Fund to use my work to help communicate the need for more donors to come forward."
You can see multiple versions of the song sung in different languages on YouTube. I've included links to the English version sung by Imogen Andrews, (neice of Julie Andrews), as well as the original version featuring David Gilmour on guitar. Click here if you'd like more information about World Blood Donor Day
University of Akron to Host 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
Written by Ryan Lang
The University of Akron is teaming up with the City of Akron and the Firefighters Local 300 to host a 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. It's happening on the 20th anniversary of the deadliest terror attack in U.S. history.
It's a $30 registration fee and proceeds go to help the Safety Forces Support Center in Akron.
You can register to climb here.
Band Tee Friday
Each Friday - post a photo of you in your music t-shirt on our Facebook page, or text it to us at 330-869-9797!
It's Band Tee Friday, brought to you by Progressive Auto Group and 97.5 WONE!
Came across this video the other day. It features Sammy Hagar and Nickelback's Chad Kroeger, (I didn't see him in the video but he's credited), performing the Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle" with a group of young, guitar-playing girls who call themselves The Miraculous Love Kids. Their teacher, Lanny Cordola, (seen in the video), says the message of this 40+ year old song still resonates for these girls living in war-torn and poverty-stricken Afghanistan and is dedicated to the more than 100 young girls who perished in a recent school bomb attack in Kabul.
Click here to watch it for yourself...and take notice the smiles on their faces, proof of the indomitable spirit of music and hope. For more information and to make a donation, go to https://miraculouslovekids.org/
I guess you could say I kinda sorta knew what I was getting into when I met Megan and quickly realized that she was "the one."
Then some time down the road a bit she told me that she was pregnant, and through tears of joy and a complete whirlwind of emotions I thought, "What have I gotten myself into?" (as I'm sure many first-time fathers have themselves).
And now, as I hold the love of my life in my arms and he looks up at me with the most curious, innocent, lovely eyes I've ever seen, I think to myself, "Wow... I've never been more into anything in my life."
It hasn't been the easiest start to this life for Baby Ro, but a couple of weeks in and he's hitting his stride. He's lucky though, because he's got the best Mom he could ever hope for and two older siblings who love him to the moon and back. Oh, and not to mention three amazing grandparents who are already spoiling him, probably too much, but with nothing but love in their hearts.
As a new dad I've realized many things over the past couple of weeks. First, I've realized that this sweet child o' mine relies on me and his Mom for literally everything. There is nothing he can do without our help. I don't know if anyone else knows this, but that's a HUGE responsibility... (<-You were supposed to pick up on the sarcasm.)
Next, I've realized that my Dad was right... about everything. My Old Man always told me, "When you have kids of your own you'll understand." And now, I understand. There's nothing I wouldn't sacrifice for my Son. Not a thing. I choose him and I choose him every single day, no matter how I'm feeling about anything else.
Finally, I've realized that I've never loved anything more. And that goes not just for my Baby Boy, but also for Megan, my fiancee. Watching what she went through, including nearly nine months of an often not-so-easy preganancy and then 14-plus hours of labor, it has given me a whole new respect and appreciation for her and the sacrifice she's made. I'm talking about not going to a concert or maybe not buying myself those new shoes or that cool kayak (which I might still do actually... Haha). My sacrifice is of a more material and time... and sleep nature, while her's is a sacrifice of so much more. And the moment I first saw my Baby Boy and heard his little coo and held him in my arms... Well, that moment... I've never felt anything like the love I felt then. I go back to that moment often and I can still feel it. Every time I hold him and he's looking up at me I feel it. And there's nothing like it.
It's still surreal to me, now two weeks removed from Baby Ro's birth. While I knew he was coming I still can't believe he's here. Just before he was born, another great dad and a great friend of mine, our own Tim Daugherty shared a little Lou Reed with me and nothing has ever rung more true; this is, indeed, the Beginning of a Great Adventure...
A seminal moment in classic rock history is about to be immortalized in bobble head. It was that moment in August 1967 when Jimi Hendrix thrilled audiences at the Monterey Pop Festival, ending his set by dousing his Fender Stratocaster guitar with lighter fluid, setting it ablaze and then smashing it.
A limited number of these will be made, (1,967 to be exact to match the year it happened), and each one will be numbered. The dolls come with the blessing of the CEO of Experience Hendrix who just happens to be Jimi's step-sister Janie.
You can order yours here If you're interested. Rock On!
(Photo courtesy of Experience Hendrix and Kollectico)
The NFL Draft lands in Cleveland this week and the lakefront will be hopping. The festivities will be held primarily in and around First Energy Stadium but there will be some splash over and others are getting into the act. For instance The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the stadium's neighbor two doors to the east, has opened a special exhibit called "The Greatest Show on Turf." It'll feature 55 years of Super Bowl Halftime Shows.
Among the items on display will be the American Flag-adorned lining of the jacket worn by U2's Bono in 2002 just a few months after 9/11, the rain-drenched outfit Prince wore in a deluge during Super Bowl XLI, you can even get up close and personal with Katy Perry's "left shark." Ah, I can still see the memes. And if you're not prone to seizures, you can even take a walk through The Weeknd's neon-lit cube of mirrors from the most recent half-time show.
Read all about The Greatest Show on Turf and on a related Rock Hall note, the Fan Vote for Class of '21 ends this week so place your vote here.
Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen will make appearances at exhibitions of his artwork at three south Florida art galleries next month. Here's what's cool about it, part of the proceeds from each sale will benefit Project Resiliency, a charity Rick and his wife, Lauren Monroe, founded to help U.S. military veterans.
Allen says, "Each piece has a story and a connection to my life from my roots in England, my life changing car accident, journey to America, travels around the globe and to my deep connection to Wounded Warriors and their struggle to heal."
Among the new works that will be on display are portraits of Eddie Van Halen, Johnny Cash, and Kurt Cobain. Those are a part of Rick's "Legends Series." See more of Rick Allen's artistic offering here on his home page.
Billy Gibbons Homage to Morrison, Richards, and More
Written by Ryan Lang
Billy Gibbons is out with a new, somewhat foreboding video for "Desert High" that feels more like an Oliver Stone movie than a music video...
Anyway, during the visually stunning video and bluesy guitar riffs, Gibbons pays tribute to rock legends Jim Morrison, Keith Richards, and Gram Parsons. See if you can catch all of the references in the video below!
This weekend, 97.5 WONE will pit The Beatles against The Rolling Stones by starting each hour, (Friday 3-9p, Saturday & Sunday 10a-10p), with back-to-back songs from each of the combatants. Cast your vote here at www.wone.net and you could win a prize, (see our site for details).
Now, we don't expect to crown a champion to this 60+ year old debate which will likely go on for a century and beyond. We know it boils down to personal preference; you can like them both or neither. Or you can take sides, for instance David Crosby recently came out for The Beatles backed by the strength of their harmonies while the late Michael Stanley would say he grew up an avowed Stones' fan because he liked their ballsier approach to rock.
All of this put me in mind of a fun article Rolling Stone magazine put out nearly one year ago. In it, Mick Jagger himself cleverly replied to Paul McCartney's claim that his band was the better of the two. Read Mick's comeback here. The Beatles VS The Stones; the debate rages on.
On this day, April 6, 1974, somewhere between 300,000 and 400,000 fans (as the story goes) gathered at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California for what, at the time, was one of the loudest, largest, and baddest concerts EVER!! The legendary California Jam!
The single-day festival featured performances form Earth, Wind, and Fire; The Eagles; Deep Purple; Emerson, Lake, and Palmer; and the one and only Black Sabbath featuring the youthful Ozzy Osbourne!
Thanks to the modern marvel of video restoration and editing we're able to enjoy that version of "War Pigs" from Sabbath's performance at the Cal Jam as it's so casually referred to.
If you were lucky enough to have been at Cal Jam, I'm sure you have plenty of stories to tell..., that is if you remember them. ;-)
Part of the majesty of attending a Cleveland Indians game at Progressive Field is the melodic bass drum that eminates from atop the bleachers in left-center field.
The man behind that drum, of course, John Adams, who has been beating that drum at Tribe home games since the 1970's!
Unfortunately, the 2021 Indians season at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario will start out on a different beat. Much to the dismay of the ball club, Tribe fans, Clevelanders, and of course John himself, he is unable to attend this year's home opener on Monday, April 5th due to health issues.
With that announcement a few weeks ago, Indians fans, while excited about the start of the season, were saddened by the news and most were heading into the home opener with the wind already knocked out of their sails.
Well as of Friday morning, the mood around Northeast Ohio and the Cleveland Indians had already been lifted and spirits are running high once again with the announcement that Akron-native and founding member of the rock band "The Black Keys" Patrick Carney is stepping in for Adams!
It's not the first time Carney will beat the legendary Indians drum, as he and Adams actually collaborated during a game in 2019:
Thank you for having my family and I. The amount of joy we receive being fans of Baseball and the Indians isn’t something I can easily explain. #gotribe ❤️ https://t.co/OXsVuuSmWT
— Patrick Carney (@patrickcarney) September 3, 2019
The Grammy-winning Carney will be affixed in Adams' spot right there at the top of those bleachers from the first pitch at 4:10 through the last out of Monday's opener against the Royals.
This Thursday, April 1st Mayor Dan Horrigan will declare it "Devo Day" in the City of Akron. No, this is not an April Fool's Day Joke. It's the way the band's hometown wants to throw its support behind its quirky favorite sons for Rock Hall induction. According to the press release, there will be "a series of activities and events that will be taking place all throughout April in order to get out #DEVOTE."
Devo is among the 16 nominees for the Rock Hall's Class of 2021 and currently has over 168,000 fan votes. You can still cast your daily ballot for them and any other of the eligible artists who you think should get in. You have until the end of April to do so. Click here and get voting.
(Photo courtesy of DEVO)
Jadeveon Clowney to the Cleveland Brownies?!?!
Yes, the man we asked to the dance last year and turned us down is back at our doorstep talking about maybe a second chance.
The Browns offered Clowney a chance to play in Cleveland prior to the 2020 season, but he instead signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. He wound up playing eight games for the Titans before he had to have season-ending knee surgery (which is concerning in and of itself).
But now, after an 11-5 season and a trip to the playoffs, the Browns are looking a little more appealiing to Clowney. We've already seen other free agents including John Johnson III turn down more money to play with the Browns, so maybe there's something to the hype.
Anyway, I'm all for Clowney signing in Cleveland to give an added spark and a little more swag to our already swaggy defensive front. He's got my support.
And if he doesn't have your's yet, watch this college highlight and decide:
When fans talk about Cleveland Browns wide receivers, fans love to talk about Odell Beckham, Jr. -- and why wouldn't they? It's not every day that Cleveland is blessed with a bona fide superstar, right? But with questions about OBJ's health -- not questioning his work ethic or desire to get back on the field -- but with the possible physical limitations due to the nature of several injuries in recent seasons, the Browns were wise to bring back Rashard "Hollywood" Higgins for another season. Hollywood was more than admirable filling in for OBJ in the second half of last season and he very much seems to be on the same page as Baker Mayfield. Oh, and Hollywood REALLY wants to be here. The Browns have a lot of talent on offense and may not need a cache of supsertars; they merely need these great players to work well within the system, as cliche as that may be. But for just more than $2 million, Hollywood Higgins is a steal, in NFL terms, for the Browns. Add Higgins' return to the Browns to the exercising of tight end David Njoku's 5th year contract option, and Baker Mayfield has a myriad of weapons in Kevin Stefanski's offensive sytem, which is a perfect fit for Baker. Now here's to good health.
And while the loss of free agent defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to the in-state and divisional foe, Cincinnati Bengals, could sting somewhat, the Browns have clearly upgraded their secondary with the signing of free agent safety John Johnson III, who turned down more money elsewhere to sign with the Browns. Again, how great is it that a top talent WANTS to play here because of the chance to win? Last season Johnson was rated as one of the top safeties in the NFL and was the defensive play caller for the Los Angeles Rams -- the top rated defense in the entire league last season. Still some work to be done -- not that GM Andrew Berry isn't trying -- but how about another edge rusher to play opposite of Myles Garrett? Let's not forget that the NFL Draft, to be held in Cleveland this year, nonetheless, is just weeks away and the Browns are primed to address more of the issues on defense.
So while we, as fans, love to see big splashes and big names and non-stop highlight reel material, it's kind of interesting how "solid, but steady" can really be the difference-maker. Especially if we call it, ironically enough, "Hollywood."
In the last week since his passing, many have shared how private a man Michael Stanley was so I would have to believe that even he might feel a little embarrassed by all the deserved attention he's getting. That being said, I hope he, (and you), would forgive me the little indulgence attached to today's blog.
After we learned of his death, an old friend of mine named John Furman reached out and said he still had a copy of the review I wrote for our high school newspaper after The Michael Stanley Band played our gymnasium in 1978. I'll admit I was a little nervous to read it, wondering if I would be totally embarrassed by my novice writing style. Michael Stanley was after all my first rock-star, backstage interview and I was starstruck. I am happy to say it's kind of held up. Reading it nearly 43 years later, it speaks to the excitement I and everyone else had the night MSB played in that packed gym.
Submitted for your approval.
While so many of us were fans, Barry Gabel from Live Nation (formerly Belkin Productions) had a much deeper relationship with Michael Stanley. Not only was Barry instrumental in bringing Michael's music to life in so many great concerts over the years, but Michael was his dear friend.
Thanks for bringing the memories to life, Barry. And Rock In Peace, Michael.
Marc Lee Shannon was a long-time member of The Resonators, Michael Stanley's band for the last 25 years. He's a local guy who like so many, rocked to MSB songs and albums back in high school. Marc is a talented guitar player who pursued a music career after graduation. It was a path that lead him home to work with, play alongside of, and become friends with Michael Stanley. Here's the interview I did with him the day after we learned of Michael's passing.
(Photo used with permission from marcleeshannon.com )
As a long-time member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, I'm happy to report it is once again open for business so on a recent sunny day, Sue and I took a trip up to see what's new.
First of all, the Hall is following Covid-19 guidelines so it's best to buy your tickets in advance and choose what day you want to go. This way, they can keep the crowd size down. Bring a mask. They've got a nice selection of them at the gift shop.
Our first stop was to see the "Power of Rock Experience." The late film producer/director Jonathan Demme somehow neatly pared down over 30 years of induction highlights into a tight 12-minute film. It gets you pumped to embark into the hall's exhibits. We stopped by the exhibit of last year's inductees and down the hall to view all who have come before them.
The cities of rock exhibit spotlights the various towns from which certain sounds originated, (i.e. Memphis, Detroit, San Francisco, London, New York, Seattle). Then we strolled through the exhibit showing the controversial side of rock such as "The Beatles more popular than Jesus" statement, Elvis Presley's hip gyrations, and those lyrics that will send all who listen straight to the devil. It makes you realize Rock & Roll has always been controversial and as one inductee in Demme's film put it , "it's not a genre that can be contained. It's a spirit." And that spirit takes on many forms and speaks to people in differing ways. And if you'd like to express your opinion, you can use the power of your vote. Click through to the fan vote page and cast a daily ballot through April 30th before the Class of 2021 gets named.
Lastly in other Rock Hall news, it was just announced this year's induction ceremony will be held October 30th at the Rocket Mortgage Field House, a much larger venue than ever before which will allow a larger local audience to attend. In closing, remember how pumped we were when it was announced that Cleveland would be the site of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Capture that feeling again and revisit it sometime with a new set of eyes.
(Photo courtesy of SueWilsonCreative.com )
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski emerged from his well-deserved winter hibernation on Tuesday and promptly said the Browns need...better coaching in 2021?!?! This is the same guy who was just named the NFL's 2020 Coach of the Year in his first year as a head coach, right?
But I absolutely love the mindset. As fans (of whichever NFL team, really) we have just grown to expect the Browns won't be any good. And while the 2020 season has to be deemed a tremendous success for the franchise, it should not be considered the standard. The Browns are still quite a ways away from the ultimate goal -- hoisting the Lombardi Trophy as Super Bowl champions. There is a lot to build on, but this is no time for complacency, and the very astute Stefanski knows that. He's not about to let his extremely talented core of players be satisfied and rest on their laurels.
One of the oldest questions in sports has been, "Is it harder to get to the top...or harder to stay on top?" And while the former might seem to be true for the Browns, as evidenced by the past quarter century, the latter is actually true. Teams now know what the Browns have -- and that the Browns CAN pull it all together. Stefanski realizes that the schemes and stunts that worked this past season, are now in the wide open view for the rest of the league...and they'll be ready. And that's where coaching comes in. A great coach rarely wins games; he puts his players in a position to win games.
And to do that year-after-year, a coach must get better. Like a true leader, Kevin Stefanski gets that. It took a while, but the Browns finally got it right. Enjoy the ride.
Sometimes you go through an old closet and find a cool jacket or maybe an old concert T that used to fit you and it really brings you back.
How about finding old 8MM footage of a 1972 Led Zeppelin concert from New Zealand?!?!
Back on February 25th, 1972, a young filmmaker Lloyd Godman snagged some up-close and personal footage of the band on stage at Western Springs Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. The then 20-year-old stashed the reel in his shed where it remained, gathering dust, for 49 years!!!!
Now, the world of rock is rejoicing after it's been revealed! Click play in the video below and watch the classic, albeit grainy footage of Zeppelin:
Opening Day for the Tribe is just a little more than a month away -- show of hands: who could use a little spring right about now?
Governor DeWine is indicating that it is likely that pro ballparks in Ohio will be at 30% capacity to start the season. That means approximately 10,500 fans at Progressive Field -- or still about ten times as many as at old Cleveland Stadium in way pre-pandemic times.
So while we waive goodbye to perennial All-Star Francisco Lindor, remember, the 2021 Cleveland Indians (while we can still call them that) are a far cry from the Miguel Dilone-Tom Veryzer-Duane Kuiper Tribe of the 1980's.