Every band starts somewhere. Whether they are a contestant on a hit show like Britain’s Got Talent or if they did it touring in a beat-up van and had to play in a dingy club where five people are in the audience or an open-mic night where they get heckled off the stage. Sometimes… Continue reading 78: A Guitar Virtuoso, a Pop Boyband, and Unforgiving Fans
Category: Music
77: Controversies, Punk, and Clichés
You always have that one friend in your group that takes it too far. The guy who orders the extra drink kills the running joke and orders a big meal when you have a light bite and expects to split the bill. Generally, this is the same person but, in some circumstances, it is different… Continue reading 77: Controversies, Punk, and Clichés
76: Tour Buses, Planes, and Wasted Talent
When you think of Ozzy Osbourne, you think of him biting the head off a bat, urinating on the Alamo, or even the legendary tour with Motley Crue. There is another incident, however, that wasn’t a wild excess story and damaged the singer and his touring band for the rest of their lives and was… Continue reading 76: Tour Buses, Planes, and Wasted Talent
75: Rejected Songs, Collaborations, and a Fresh Take
We think of them as legends now, but the bands and artists involved in the New York punk scene of the 1970s didn’t get much recognition in their time. The Ramones, Television, and The New York Dolls had a local following but never made it into the big time like their latter contemporaries like Blondie… Continue reading 75: Rejected Songs, Collaborations, and a Fresh Take
74: Love, Marriage, and Rock Stardom
Ever since the relationship between Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen (68: Punk, Hotel Rooms, and Heroin – Beat Marches On), the tabloids tend to speculate as to who is going to be the next disaster couple. Pete Doherty and Kate Moss, Amy Winehouse and Blake Fielder-Civil, and even Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. In the… Continue reading 74: Love, Marriage, and Rock Stardom
73: Overreaction, Halftime Shows, and a Wardrobe Malfunction
It’s halftime of Superbowl XXXVIII (or 38 for you non-romans) The New England Patriots lead the Carolina Panthers 14-10 and will eventually go on and keep their lead to win their second Superbowl in three years. The win for New England isn’t what is remembered at this particular Superbowl, however, it’s the hijinks that occurred… Continue reading 73: Overreaction, Halftime Shows, and a Wardrobe Malfunction
72: Big Bands, Small Planes, and The Missing Leader
During the Second World War, everybody did their part. Even the most famous of people. Alfred Hitchcock made pro-allied propaganda films, French actress Josephine Baker was a part of the French resistance, and James Doohan or Scotty from Star Trek stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day in 1944. It wasn’t just the film… Continue reading 72: Big Bands, Small Planes, and The Missing Leader
71: Conspiracies, Authors, and Presidents
In the age of the internet, it is easy to create a conspiracy. Celebrities who have been body swapped, death caused by one thing, but in reality, it turns out to be something totally different, or (insert flamboyant musician here depending on your generation), removed ribs to give themselves some er self-love. Most of these… Continue reading 71: Conspiracies, Authors, and Presidents
70: Thanksgiving, Finale’s, and Robbery
Eric Clapton, the guitar god himself, inducting The Band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame said ‘I travelled to Woodstock to meet the Band to ask to join, but I didn’t have the guts to ask them’ and many people in the industry felt this way about The Band. They were the musicians,… Continue reading 70: Thanksgiving, Finale’s, and Robbery
69: Africa, Espionage, and Jazz
No one likes being played for a fool. Whether it’s the cocky little so-and-so down the pub, or it’s the government U-turning, it gives you one of the worst feelings you can have. It’s embarrassment, anger, and humiliation all wrapped up into one. So, when a government spy agency uses a musician tour for ulterior… Continue reading 69: Africa, Espionage, and Jazz