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Author: Fred Schott
Cinderella Story
On September 16, 1972, a relatively unknown guitarist played his first concert as a solo artist when he opened for the J. Geils Band. He had been the lead singer and guitarist in a pop band called The Herd and then for three years in a hard rock band, but none of either band’s studio…
Robert F’ing Plant
Today, Robert Plant turns 76. I had the great fortune of meeting Mr. Plant once at the Gatwick Airport Hotel. He was a true gentleman in every respect. There is not a single entertainer who experienced more joy and more sorrow during the 1970s. Think about it: Jimmy and Robert had no peers in the…
THE BIRTH OF HEAVY METAL
On this date, an event occurred which has had a profound effect on my life. And likely on yours, too. See, on August 12, 1968, Jimmy first jammed with Robert, John Paul and Bonzo in a tiny basement room in London. The song was Train Kept ‘A Rollin’ (which Page had played both in its…
HOPE – A STORY OF WORST TO PERFECTION
I know this is a music group but every now and then I like to send an inspirational message. Hey, the world can be a hard, ugly, and crazy place sometimes so a ray of sunshine story can always help. Today’s birthday person is the poster child to never giving up. No matter how bad…
Tomorrow Never Knows
The Beatles’ Revolver was released on this date in 1966. Revolver marked a turning point in both the production and release of music for The Beatles and all of the pop/rock genre. This was the album where John, Paul, George, Ringo, and George Martin melded the songwriting and song arranging capabilities of the band with…
END OF AN ERA
ICYDK, Aerosmith announced yesterday that they would no longer tour. This sad news marks the end of an era for this kid. See, I wasn’t around (i.e., immersed in the music scene and aware of a higher plane of consciousness) for the birth of The Beatles or Jimi or Zeppelin like some of you born…
TOMMY BOLIN
Tommy Bolin was born on this date in 1951 but only lived to reach 25 years of age. (Didn’t even make it into the 27 Club.) Tommy never seemed to feel at home in a band, bouncing from Zephyr to James Gang to Deep Purple. Part of the problem was his misfortune in having to…
Ahmet
Ahmet Ertegun was born on this date 101 years ago today. He, along with folks like Berry Gordy, Clive Davis, Jerry Wexler, David Geffen, and the Chess brothers, were instrumental in the release of mountains of music we know and love. As co-founder and president of Atlantic Records, Ahmet personally helped launch the careers of…
Dylan and Zeppelin
This date marked the beginning of one legend’s rise and the end of another’s. On July 24, 1965, for the first time one of Bob Dylan’s performances charted in the U.S. It still might be the best song he ever wrote, Like a Rolling Stone. Other artists, notably Peter, Paul and Mary, had previously charted…
All That Glitters Is Not Gold
On July 23, 1968, The Iveys got their big break. Any up-and-coming band would have traded places with them because they were the first band signed to The Beatles’ new record label, Apple with the contract signed 56 years ago today. What could be better? Paul McCartney had written a song called Bad Finger Boogie…